Prelude:   
On may 11th, 2023 i responded to a boat accident with reports of a possible victim in the water in indianapolis, in. It was later determined that the victim drowned as a result of falling into the water.  
      
Details of investigation/ incident:  
        on may 11th, 2023, while on routine patrol in marion county, i indiana conservation received information from ico dispatch about a boat accident that occurred on the white river. The initial call came in from marion county dispatch at 7:20pm of a boat accident with two people in the water with a possible drowning. Ico dispatch advised that indianapolis fire department and indianapolis metropolitan police department were already on scene. Ico dispatch also advised the location to be 2006 white river parkway. I patrolled lights and sirens to the scene. Upon arrival, i advised ico dispatch that i was on scene. I then made contact with officer with impd. Officer gave a summary of what happened. Officer was accompanied by one of the victims. After speaking with officer, i spoke with subject1 about the incident to gather more information.  

Subject1 advised that he had been fishing on the white river all day and that his friend had called him multiple times earlier that day. Subject1 also stated that victim had been asking him to take him out on his boat fishing. Subject1 then informed me that he ignored victim's phone calls about taking him on the boat out of apprehension. Subject1 informed me that victim had very little experience in being on boats. Subject1 also informed me that his lack of experience is why he had not taken him out on the boat prior. Subject1 then stated that after ignoring several of victim's phone calls, that he reluctantly answered the phone and agreed to take victim out on his boat.   

Subject1 stated that when victim arrived that he came back to the shore to pick him up. Subject1 then stated that victim entered his boat and sat facing the stern of the boat facing towards him. Subject1 stated that as they launched from the shore and were underway that a splash of water came over the front of the boat, causing victim to stand up in the boat. 

Subject1 informed me that the water coming over the front of the boat startled victim. Subject1 stated because of victim standing up it caused a severe shift in weight in the boat causing him to lose his balance and causing the boat to flip over. 

Subject1 states that as the boat flipped over, that he was able to swim back to the boat and climb on the bottom of the boat. He states that victim had fallen too far away from him and the boat. Subject1 advised that he attempted to throw his anchor rope floating nearby towards victim, but it wasn't long enough to reach him. Subject1 then stated that he continued to throw the rope towards victim until his anchor got stuck and he was unable to retrieve anymore rope. Subject1 stated that victim was panicking in the water and that he struggled to stay afloat. Subject1 states that victim struggled for approximately 10 minutes before he went underwater.   

 after speaking with subject1, i observed ifd dive personnel on scene near the water's edge actively searching for victim, who at this point had been in the water for approximately 45 minutes. At 7:45pm ifd dive personnel recovered victim approximately 40 feet away from the bank in 7-10 feet of water. Ifd personnel on scene brought victim onto the bank and began life saving efforts to bring him back. After performing chest compressions and defibrillations, victim was transported to eskenazi health where he was later pronounced deceased.  

After victim was transferred to hospital, i began to document the scene with photographs and gathered gps coordinates. I then made contact with a second witness on scene. I asked subject2 what happened and what had he saw. Subject2 advised that he is currently homeless and that he was sitting outside of his camper trailer underneath the west street bridge when he observed subject1 fishing from his boat. 

Subject2 then stated that he went inside to lay down. Subject2 states that approximately 30 minutes later he observed through his blinds victim getting into subject1's boat. Subject2 stated that he laid back down for a moment, then he heard what he believed someone say “oh!” And that caused him to look back out of his blinds.   
Subject2 advised that he saw victim stand up suddenly and the boat flip soon after. Subject2 stated that he rushed out to the water's edge to try and help, he stated that he ran into the water approximately knee deep before the bank dropped off suddenly. Subject2 stated that he attempted to talk victim to shore but victim was unable to comprehend what he was saying. Subject2 states that victim was panicking on the surface of the water in front of him and that he was hardly staying on the surface. Subject2 states that he attempted to reach victim but he was too far off the bank to reach him.  
 
Subject2 then states that another bystander came to try and help with a long stick, he states that he and the bystander attempted to get the stick to victim. Subject2 stated that victim in his panic was able to grab the stick for a moment but he broke the stick. Subject2 stated that after victim broke the stick that he stopped splashing in the water and slowly sank beneath the surface of the water. 
  
After speaking with subject2 and getting his statement i spoke with a third witness. Subject3 stated that she and her three sons were fishing nearby, when she observed out the corner of her eye a boat flipping over in the water near the bridge. Subject3 stated that her oldest son ran down to try and help victim who was in distress in the water. Subject3 states that her son grabbed a large stick and attempted to get it to victim. She stated that the stick was just barely long enough to reach victim. Subject3 stated that she observed the stick as it got closer to victim that it snapped and that's when she saw victim go underwater.  

After speaking with all the witnesses on scene, i observed ifd personnel towing in subject1's boat. When they got to shore, i documented the boat bearing registration with additional photographs. I spoke with the ifd personnel who recovered the boat, and they stated the boat was caught on something in the water and that they had a hard time dislodging the boat.  

Later that evening i spoke with the coroner who gave her preliminary ruling of the drowning to be accidental.  
As of 5/19/2023 i am waiting for the marion county coroner's report.  
   
No charges will be filed. No further actions required.
White River
Indianapolis                  