On June 3rd of 2023 at 17:28 EST, KSP Post advised me, Officer 1 of a boat accident in which Operator1 was hit by a Sea-Doo on Green River Lake causing damage to his vessel. I contacted Operator1 and met him and the Sea-Doo operator, Operator2 at Site One boat ramp. There I learned both vessels were still operational, and the Sea-Doo and the Baja operated by Operator1. All occupants on both vessels denied medical treatment.

I interview Operator2 and the occupant on his Sea-Doo. Operator2 stated they were riding on the personal watercraft (PWC) and saw a boat passing them. As he was going to the left of Operator1 vessel, it stopped in front of him. He stated he turned the PWC hard to the left to avoid a T-bone collision. Operator2 stated that he had been jumping vessels' wake and that they came through some waves, and he had looked back. When he turned back around the boat was in front of them. He let off the throttle and turned it hard to the left. Operator2 stated he and his son got off the Sea-Doo just prior to it hitting the Baja. 

Operator1 stated they were going down the lake toward Holmes Bend when a female passenger lost her hat, so he slowed down to turn around. Operator1 began to turn left, while the PWC was following too close, and ran right into the port side of his boat.  Operator1 told me that the operator of the PWC had been jumping their wake and made eye contact before the collision and stated the operator of the PWC had time to turn but didn’t. 

A witness to the collision from his own vessel that was going down the lake towards Green River Marina. Witness had drawn out how the collision had happened. Witness stated the PWC was going up the lake toward Holmes Bend and the runabout was stopped making a slight left turn due to something flying out of the vessel. As the runabout was turning left the PWC struck the runabout on the port side. Subject stated that the PWC riders had bailed off before hitting the runabout.

                                                         Witness statements-
V2 occupant (Passenger of the Sea-Doo) stated his dad (Operator2) was driving and was just hitting waves like the other PWC. V2 occupant stated he told his dad that the speed boat was coming back, and he looked through the rear-view mirror and they were coming up the left side and continued to hit waves. After they landed, the boat was stopped in the middle of the lake right in front of them. Both V2 occupant and operator2 fell off the opposite side of the crash side. V2 occupant stated they offered to take everyone back their houseboat to get it all sorted out, but the other vessel didn’t want to. 

Subject2 (Passenger of Baja) stated they were driving down the lake, they slowed down to turn around and a jet ski was following too close behind them. It looked like they weren’t trying to stop or slow down and ran right into the side of the boat.
Green River Lake
CAMPBELLSVILLE                