On July 2, 2023 at approximately 1730 hrs. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks enforcement responded to the report of two people who had fallen off a jet ski on Hauser Lake near the Causeway Fishing Access Site (FAS). Neither one was wearing lifejackets. 

After falling in the water, the male operator attempted to swim after the jet ski and then went towards shore.  Shortly after falling into the lake, he went under.  The female passenger immediately swam towards shore after falling into the water.  She was able to make it safely to the shore due to a resident from a nearby house swimming out to her and rescuing her.

Around two hours after the male operator of the jet ski went under the water and drowned he was recovered by Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue personnel.

An interview with the surviving female passenger was conducted on scene and she provided the following:

- she and the male operator had driven out to the Causeway FAS to see if the jet ski would run
- the male operator said they would only be out for a short run so they didn''t need PFDs
- shortly after they disembarked from the ramp the jet ski did not appear to be running well
- the jet ski died at least once and the male operator speculated that the jet ski needed new plugs
- while the jet ski was off/not running the female passenger fell off the jet ski to the rear/starboard
- the male operator stood up on the opposite side of the jet ski and reached across to help her up onto the rear deck portion of the jet ski
- the combined weight from the assist attempt to the port side caused the jet ski to tip severely to the starboard, throwing them both into the lake

After this point, the female passenger was rescued and the male operator drowned.

Failing to wear PFDs and operating an old, unreliable jet ski that failed to run led to the fatal incident.

Additionally, a methamphetamine pipe was found the male drowning victim after he was recovered.  An early UA analysis showed he did have methamphetamine in his system, but this analysis was not sufficient to establish whether he was impaired as a result of the drug use at the time of the fatal accident.

Hauser Lake
HELENA                        