On 6/30/2023 at approximately 12:20am. Conservation officer 1 was notified by Palo Alto Dispatch of a boat incident with injury at Silver Lake from Palo Alto county dispatch.  Officer 1 called me Conservation Officer 2 to inform me of the incident.  I was unable to respond to the call so Officer 1's went to Silver Lake.  He also notified Officer 3 of the incident.  
The operator of the boat, Operator, was the injured person in the boat and was being transported to Spence hospital by his mother.  Officer 3 went to the Spencer hospital to gather information.  Officer 1 took photos of the boat and gathered information at the boat ramp at Silver Lake where the boat was towed to after it stopped turning in circles, by an individual.
The boat was being operated by the owner in the  middle of Silver Lake. Operator told Officer 2 that he was driving at approximately 30mph when he turned sharply to the left and hit a wave, he was then ejected from the boat to the right.  The boat was still at full throttle and turning in a circle.  The boat ran Operator over and the prop struck Operator's left forearm almost chopping it completely off.  Operator was able to swim to shore a few houses from his parents lake house.  Operator found a towel and wrapped his arm up and then knocked on the door for help.  Operator was transported to Spencer Hospital by his mother and was then life flighted to Sioux Falls Hospital, Operator's arm was amputated just below the left elbow.
Deputy from the Palo Alto sheriff's office obtained a search warrant for a blood draw on Operator as there was evidence in the boat he had been drinking eer from the empty beer cans.  Officer 3 was at the Spencer hospital waiting for the warrant to go through but the helicopter landed and took Operator to the Sioux Falls Hospital before Officer 3 was able to get the blood drawn.
When Officer 2 interviewed Operator, he admitted he had been drinking and operating the boat at approximately 30 mph making turns and driving the boat like a Waverunner.  I believe the alcohol consumption, driving at a high rate of speed at night and hitting a wave are the cause of this incident.
Silver Lake
Ayrshire                      