A boat collision early last Tuesday morning at Tenkiller Lake left one man hospitalized after the vessel struck Tenkiller Dam, according to a report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement Division.
The incident occurred around 1:10 a.m. when a 2009 Legend boat, operated by Connor Upton, 27, of Brighton, Colo., crashed into the dam. Authorities say Upton was unfamiliar with the lake and limited visibility contributed to the collision.
One of the passengers, Trey Snell, 27, of Parkhill, was seriously injured and airlifted by Survival Flight to Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He was admitted in good condition with injuries to his leg. Another passenger, Douglas Stratton, 25, of Cookson, was not injured in the crash. Upton, the operator, was also unharmed.
Investigating officer Trooper Russell Stripling of the OHP Marine Enforcement Division reported that although the boat was equipped with personal flotation devices, none were in use at the time of the collision.
Upton was found to be in apparently normal condition, and the official cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The collision is being investigated by OHP Troop W’s Marine Enforcement Division.
