At approximately 0845 on 07/23/23, I received a call regarding a boat accident on Center Hill Lake and responded to Edgar Evins State Park in DeKalb County, TN. I arrived on scene at a courtesy dock at approximately 0935, spotted the grounded Malibu wakeboat, and began speaking to the boat owner / father of the driver. 

Owner agreed to get his son and the known occupants to meet me at the boat ramp. After obtaining a statement, I was picked up by other officers via boat and took pictures of the accident and confirmed the grounded vessel to be Owner''s. Upon returning to the dock, myself and Sgt. interviewed the occupants and discovered that the vessel was returning from Hurricane Marina and headed towards their boat slip at Edgar Evins Marina around 2230 on 07/22/23 when it ran aground on a narrow shallow strip of rocks and trees. 

During this accident, a large tree-branch struck operator in the face after breaking the starboard-side windshield. He was the only occupant on board to suffer injuries.  He was taken to the Cookeville Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released with a hairline fracture below his nose along with various facial abrasions. There were 0 fatalities. The vessel had an expired registration subject owner was cited for Violation of Vessel Registration law and Failure to Maintain a Proper Lookout. TowBoat US was dispatched to pull the vessel off the rocks back to the boat ramp. 

***This is a preliminary report***
CENTER HILL RESERVOIR
SMITHVILLE                    