On July 4th, 2023 at approximately 2245, a vessel capsized near shore around Sylvan Dr on the east side of Flathead Lake. 

	There were four people onboard the boat. They had been out on the boat all day and may likely have been drinking as evidenced by a plastic bag full of empty alcoholic beverage containers. The vessel was traveling North from Woods Bay toward Bigfork Bay at 10-20 mph when a North-west windstorm suddenly increased swell size. The lighting conditions were dusk. The operator of the vessel decided to turn towards shore to see if a residence would let them wait out the storm on their dock when a wave broke over the port side of the boat and swamped it with water. Soon after another wave came over the side and capsized the boat, ejecting all 4 occupants. None of the occupants were wearing PFDs, but all were able to swim to shore. The operator claimed that there were PFDs onboard. The vessel was overturned in the water, with the stern likely touching bottom, and the bow of the boat sticking out of the water. There were minor scratches on the hull, and unknown damage to the rest of the vessel that was still underwater.

	Hazardous water and weather were likely the cause of this accident, as well as restricted visibility the operator claimed he had only had one alcoholic beverage that night. The operator claimed to have over 100 hours of boating experience on flathead lake, however, inexperience in rough water and turning the bow away from the waves was the cause of this accident. BAC levels were not available at the time of this report, and life jackets were not used by any aboard.
FLATHEAD
NOT IN CITY LIMITS            