Talk about a bad day!!!!!

[Superdave]

Friday 7/11/03 I was fishing at night on Old Hickory Lake. My cousin and I were in my boat and decided to go home around midnight. I fired up, put on our life jackets and planed off. We were running about 35-40 mph when I see a boat not 20 feet in front of me. I turned hard left, but still hit them. I was thrown out and a passenger in the other boat was thrown out (no life jacket on her). My cousin slammed into the console on my bassboat, but stayed in the boat. The girl was pulled out okay. We call 911 because my cousin was hurt pretty bad. The TWRA came, did the reports and gave me a sobriety test, which I passed wiht no problem. I have 3 broken ribs and my upper right arm is so swollen I my arm wouldn't fit in a shirt sleeve. Bruised EVERYWHERE. My cousin has four broken ribs, a punctured lung, and several fractured "Transverse Process", these are the small "wings" on each individual vertebrae. After reliving this several times in my head, this is the result so far. The 25' boat was anchored in the middle of aboat lane with NO lights on that we saw. The driver said he saw us and heard us coming, (I have my exhaust drilled), but took NO action as to flip on any lights, blow horn, SCREAM!!!!. I overheard them tell the wildlife officer that they know their lights worked because they checked them before they put the boat in. I told the officer that their lights may work, but that doesn't mean they were on at the time. Guess what, it's probably my fault! Won't really know until the TWRA finishes their investigation. All I can say is "WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS" and thank GOD it wasn't worse. The people in the other boat were only bruised, but the two women went to the ER also.
Dave

[Jimbob]

At least you're still here to tell the tale. Most accidents like these have far more tragic endings. Hope you and your cousin get well soon.

[gaineso]

Totally sucks. Thank God you're here telling the story. Hope all works out and everyone heals quickly.

[Scott]

Glad everyone made it. Wishing all a speedy recovery!

[Talon2.5]

man sorry to hear that!! glad it wasnt worse!! best wishes on a full recovery to you all!!

[Doubledog]

Why does it seem like S*** seems to happen to good honest folks more so than others?

Both parties are in our thoughts.

[heath brinkley]

Sorry to hear that, hope you have a speedy recovery.

I hate driving at night for that reason, went out at night two week ago, and was heading straight for a boat anchored with no lights on, saw it about 100 yards before hitting him so I had time to move.

[Raceman]

Sorry you had to go through all that SuperD. I hope the investigators get to the REAL truth. I hate to run at night for that reason and have gotten where I don't do it without using a handheld spotlight. I've seen parts of floating docks, not to mention big enough pieces of debris to hurt a gearcase and once there was either a refrigerator or freezer floating in the lake. One of my neighbors hit a pontoon boat that was unmanned and had come loose from somebody's dock. There are so many idiots on the water now that it's not safe without it bein' well lit.

I don't wear a lifejacket at night because of the slow speeds. I think after your experience it'll become a requirement for anybody in my boat after dark.

[heath brinkley]

Yeah, lifejackets at night sound like a real good plan from now on. I never drive faster than required to stay on plane at night (too chicken) therefore never saw the need for lifejackets. But I'll sit on my dock at night and hear the bass boats running wide open, I just shake my head. They got more guts than I do.

Refrigerator, After a storm one day I saw something funny looking in the water, couldn't figure out what it was. took the jetski out to look and it was a patio picnic table that was blown out into the water and the waves carried it out about a mile into the lake.