West Lake Okoboji, Iowa – On Thursday August 6th, DNR Conservation Officers located a damaged boat consistent with damage to the hit and run incident, which seriously injured Vaughn Wickham of Spirit Lake, Iowa on August 4th.
The boat was located in a hoist at a private residence on the north end of West Lake Okoboji. Conservation Officers obtained a search warrant and seized a 2010 28 foot Boston Whaler. Shortly after seizing the boat, Zachery Kruse, 20, of Spirit Lake, Iowa turned himself in to DNR Conservation Officers and admitted to operating the boat involved in the hit and run.
Kruse was booked into the Dickinson County Jail and charged with an aggravated misdemeanor for failing to give aid in a vessel resulting in a serious injury.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau was assisted by the Dickinson County Sheriff’s office and numerous helpful citizens in the investigation.
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West Lake Okoboji, Iowa – The DNR Law Enforcement Bureau is seeking the public’s help in locating a boat involved in a hit and run on Tuesday, August 4th at approximately 10:35 pm, near Manhattan Point on West Lake Okoboji.
According to the DNR a boat, traveling northbound hit another boat from behind just off Manhattan Point, injuring 52-year-old Vaughn Wickman of Spirit Lake, who was operating the boat that was hit. The boat that caused the crash then fled the scene.
The report states that Wickman was transported to a local hospital by ambulance where he was treated for injuries sustained in the crash. DNR Conservation Officers and local law enforcement attempted to locate the boat involved, and also utilized the Dickinson County thermal imaging drone, but were not able to locate the boat. Conservation Officers continue to investigate the incident.
Anyone with information related to this hit and run investigation, including witnesses or anyone who sees a boat with new front end damage or scrape marks, is asked to contact DNR Conservation Officer Steve Reighard immediately at 712-260-1018 or email Steve.Reighard@dnr.iowa.gov.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should state that when sharing pertinent information related to this case.
