On August 20, 2023, at approximately 8:16am I, Game Warden received a call from a Smith County Sheriff's Deputy that a severely damaged boat had been found on Lake Palestine North of the Hwy 155 bridge. An injured dog was onboard the vessel and there were no other occupants on or near the boat. 

The caller stated that the vessel was approximately 150 yards North of the bridge when they found the boat. The boat was a 2015 Ranger Silver and black in color. Smith County Game Warden and I arrived on scene in our patrol boat and the victim's boat was still running. The kill switch was detached, and we were unable to turn off the motor. We turned the perko to the off position and the motor continued to run. The motor finally shut off and we were able to pull the boat to shore for further investigation. While working on the victim's boat, a deputy went to the address of the boat owner's home to see if the owner was accounted for. The deputy spoke to the wife of Subject. She stated that Subject left their home with their two dogs at approximately 11:30pm August 19th to go to Lake Palestine and that he was intoxicated. There was a sunglass holder containing marijuana and drug paraphernalia that was found on the victim's boat after we recovered him. Subject's truck and trailer were located at the Village's marina, north of the Hwy 155 bridge.

Warden and I were able to locate where the boat struck the bridge from the shiny silver discoloration of the cement piling on the bridge and the pink in color fiberglass embedded in the piling. From land on the East side of the bridge, this was the fourth row down of pilings. It was the fifth and final piling in the row if you're heading south on the lake. Warden, Capt., and I marked a location of the victim with the side scan sonar. We were able to retrieve the victim at approximately 11:12am using a hook drag and he was approximately 25 yds from where the collision took place. 

The victim had boxers and a shirt on over his head at the time of the recovery and he was not wearing a life jacket. The coordinates were recorded where the victim was found and where the accident took place. The victim was placed in a body bag and taken to the on-call JP on shore to be pronounced deceased. Warden and I left the scene while Capt. and Warden help the tow truck operator get the victim's boat on the boat trailer for further investigation. End of Report.

0566 PALESTINE
Flint                         