On June 11th, 2023, at approximately 5:55 PM, Corporal and I were patrolling Lake Seminole near the Bainbridge Boat Basin when we were flagged down by occupants of a bass tracker pontoon boat under the north train trestle. As we approached the vessel, we observed substantial damage to the front of the boat, and it appeared that the vessel had struck the piling of the train trestle head on. I saw that two adult females were laying on the deck while two adult males and two juvenile females tried to render aid. 

	As we pulled alongside the vessel, I asked how many people were injured and Operator stated that both of the adult females were injured. Victim1 complained that her arm was broken and was holding it tightly against her body. Victim2 stated that she had hit her head and that she could not stand and did not know if she could stand. I immediately communicated to dispatch that an EMS unit was needed and asked them to meet us at Bainbridge Marina. Cpl. and I then assisted Victim2 and Victim1 onto our patrol vessel and transported them to the Marina and assisted in transferring them from our vessel to EMS personnel at the landing. 

	Cpl. remained with the injured females and Sergeant and I returned to the scene of the boating incident to continue the investigation. The vessel, although damaged, was still stable and floating upright and Sgt. and I decided to tow it back to the Bainbridge Boat Basin so that it would not become a hazard for other boaters. The two juveniles and Occupant1 boarded our patrol vessel while Operator, who stated he was the operator, remained on board the pontoon boat to steer the vessel while being towed. While in route to the Boat Basin I asked Occupant1 to provide a written statement about the incident. His statement is as follows: 

	"Occupant2 and myself were riding tube. I thought we were going to hit the trees when he (Operator) was turning us around, so I pulled me and Occupant2 off the tube and into water. When I surfaced, I saw the boat against piling and only Occupant3 standing. I started to swim to the boat and realized Operator was in the water. He got in the boat before me and was checking on the ladies. When I got on the boat, both women were in the floor. We started checking on them and that’s when the Game Wardens showed up"

	Once at the Boat Basin I asked Operator to provide a written statement on the incident and a description of where the passengers on board the vessel were seated at the time of the crash (see attached statement for diagram). He provided the following:

	"I was driving with the tube behind me and when I turned around and the pole was there. It threw me out of the boat, so I swam back to the boat and climbed on and found mom (Victim2) was hurt and so was victim. I checked the girls and helped mom and then we waved down marine patrol."

	I advised Operator that his boat would be transported to and stored in our boat house at Seminole State Park until the completion of the boating incident report and he stated that was fine. Corporal and Game Warden completed an inventory sheet on the vessel before placing it in storage.

	Both Victim1 and Victim2 were transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for treatment. Victim2 suffered only minor scrapes on her head and soreness from the wreck. She was discharged from the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital after receiving a tetanus vaccination. Victim1 suffered a broken humerus, which required surgery. She had a bracket and several screws placed to correct the break before being discharged the following day. (pictures of X-Rays provided by Victim1 are attached.

	Operator was issued one citation for the 100-foot law violation and I released his vessel to him on June 20th, 2023.

Lake Seminole
BAINBRIDGE                    