On May 8, 2023, I, Texas Game Warden, was notified by Texas parks and Wildlife dispatch of a possible boat collision with a fixed object at the Steiner Ranch Pier. The collision was reported to take place on April 30, 2023, approximately 8 days prior. The reporting party, Steiner Ranch manager, had a pier damaged by a vessel but had not been contacted by the vessel owner/operator and no insurance information had been exchanged.

On May 9, 2023, I contacted owner, who informed me that on May 2, 2023, a resident  emailed them and stated that on 4/30/23, he was on Lake Austin and observed a boat collide with the Steiner Ranch pier and then drive away to an nearby slip and docked. He included multiple photos of the boat and the damage in his email that were taken the day of the collision (4/30/23). Individual passed along the photos that were provided to him and gave me the email address that sent them. I contacted party via email and interviewed him over the phone. All photos, emails and interview notes from him are available upon request. The photos provided contained the registration numbers for the vessel. The owner information came back to Freedom Boat Club, who operated out of the slip next to the Steiner Ranch Pie; the same slip witness stated the boat docked after hitting the pier. 

On May 11, 2023, property owner provide a quote for damage repairs to the dock that was around eleven thousand- specific quote is on file and exact amount listed in the report.  I contacted the Freedom Boat Club and talked to the owner, who stated the boat was rented out during that time and turned in around 7 pm. He provided me with the name and contact information of the renter. I drove to the Freedom Boat Club dock and met with the on-site Freedom Boat Club Manager, who assisted me in identifying the boat in question. We looked around the boat and identified damage to the boat- two different paint transfer marks and minor trim damage where the boat hit and rode over the pier and a light post. Based on the damage, matching paint transfer and matching pictures/description, I was confident the boat was the same one that hit the pier. Pictures were taken of the paint transfer, damaged dock, and vessel. 

I was not able to reach the Operator by phone and drove to their residence and met with wife. She confirmed they were the ones who rented the vessel that day and collided with the dock after she was dropped off to use the Steiner Ranch Pier restrooms. She said her husband,  was the operator. She stated she was not aware the damage was not reported but they would take care of it immediately. I provided her with contact information and said they needed to get ahold of him and the Freedom Boat Club owner to work out all the details. I gave her my card and told her I needed to speak with her husband. 

On or about May 12, 2023, Operator called me and provided a brief description of the events which were similar to that provided by others. I attempted to schedule multiple in-person meetings with him but extensive work travel kept him out of the state for weeks at a time. Operator and I exchanged phone calls and texts throughout the end of May and June but were unsuccessful in finding a mutually available time to meet up. 

On or about May 17, 2023, I reached out to owner who informed me the operator, and Freedom Boat Club were handling all the expenses for the repairs, and he did not see any reason to pursue the matter further and did not want charges to be pressed. He said his only concern was with getting the damaged repaired and the cost recuperated.

I conceded to a phone interview with operator and called him on or about June 26, 2023, to discuss the collision and obtain additional details about the event. operator stated the pontoon boat was occupied by 8 passengers, 6 adults and 2 kids, and was docked at the end of the Steiner Ranch Pier facing southwest. The two kids were wearing PFDs, the other adults were not. All PFDs were accessible. operator stated he was familiar with the boat and had driven it approximately 7 times in the past for approximately 30 hours of operating time. He also stated he has been operating boats since he was 16 years old and took an in house boating safety course from the boat club. operator stated that on the day of the accident, the group had returned from renting the boat for the day and pulled up to the Steiner Ranch Pier to let off a passenger to use the restroom.  operator reported he had half of a mixed drink about 90 minutes prior to the accident and denied any additional alcohol or drugs. The passenger reboarded the vessel.

He stated he went to leave from the dock and his spotter pushed the front of the boat away from the dock. As the front of the boat moved away from the dock, a wave hit the boat from the southeast pushing it North/Northwest into the dock at the same time he accelerated. The boat was pushed up onto the dock and then he accelerated over the end of the dock knocking down a standing light pylon. No one was thrown or injured in the incident and the boat remained operational with minimal damage. The boat was then docked about 40 yards past the Steiner Ranch Pier at the Freedom Boat Club slip. operator stated he informed someone at the dock about the incident. The Freedom Boat Club owner and on-site manager, both stated they were not aware of the incident. I asked operator for the passenger names and ages that were on the boat at the time of the collision. He declined to provide them. 

All emails, photos, notes and BWC footage from interviews and on-site investigation are stored and available upon request.
0033 AUSTIN
Austin                        