On april 15, 2023, around 13:50 a boating incident occurred in flat swamp creek of high rock lake, davidson county.  Vessel one was a 1987, 17-foot 350v ranger bass boat.  It had a 150-horsepower outboard motor.  

Vessel two was a 2020, 20-foot 721 pro xp phoenix bass boat.  It had a 250-horsepower outboard motor.  Vessel two hit the stern of vessel one and continued over the top of vessel one.  The passenger of vessel one, v1 subject1, was struck by vessel two.  


On this day, the two operators met one another further downstream on flat swamp creek while bass fishing.  Operator1 told operator2 that he could follow him to a fishing spot up stream.   While travelling to the fishing spot, the two vessels approached the no wake zone at the hwy 8 bridge next to the flat swamp boat ramp.  

Operator1 slowed vessel one to idle speed as he approached the no wake zone and vessel traffic around the bridge.  Operator2 was following directly behind vessel one.  When vessel one came off plane to idle speed, operator2 was not paying attention and following to close to vessel one.  

Operator2 stated that he looked up and saw that vessel one had stopped in front of him, and he did not have time to stop or change course.  The passenger of vessel two also stated that they were not paying attention.  Vessel two was traveling around 20 mph at the time of the collision.  As a result, vessel two struck the back port side of vessel one.  Vessel two traveled over the stern port side of vessel one and across the passenger seat.   Vessel two then came to land in the water on the port side of vessel two.  The passenger of vessel one was struck in the back by vessel two.  After the initial collision, both vessels traveled to the nearby boat ramp of flat swamp access area.  

Emergency services were called, and v1 subject1 was transported to the hospital.  I arrived on scene shortly after to conduct my investigation.  

V1 subject1 was transported to the hospital in lexington where he was treated and then later released.  He sustained a closed fracture in his t5 spine, a hairline fracture to his hip and an abrasion to his upper back.  He expects to make a full recovery.  

Vessel one sustained damage to its motor, transom, deck, seat, and rail.  Operator1 also lost most of his fishing gear when vessel one was struck.  It was all thrown out of the vessel.   Vessel two sustained fiberglass damage to the bow and starboard bottom of its hull.  It also had some damage to its skeg and possibly lower unit.  No one else was injured in this incident.  

Alcohol and drugs were not a factor.  Operator2 was following to close and failed to maintain a proper lookout.  This resulted in his careless and reckless operation.  He was cited for careless and reckless operation.  He was also written a warning for not having a type iv pfd and not having the proper registration numbers displayed on his vessel.
HIGH ROCK LAKE
DENTON                        