The investigation is continuing into a weekend boat collision on Black River that left a Poplar Bluff teenager dead and five others injured.
The crash happened at about 7:25 p.m. Sunday on a "straighter stretch" of the river about one mile upstream from the Hendrickson boat ramp, said Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. J.T. Wilson, who indicated the river is "pretty wide" at that location and about 4 to 5 feet deep, with shallow water and moderate current.
There is a "running channel," so a portion of the river is very shallow (on the north side), and the south side is deeper, Wilson said.
At the time of the crash, the highway patrol reports Braden P. Bollinger, 27, of Dexter was operating a 2003 Alweld downstream at the same time Matthew R. Rushin, 32, of Poplar Bluff was operating a 1987 Shoalrunner upstream.
"Both boats were on plane," but their speeds are unknown at this point, said Wilson.
"(Rushin's boat) tried to avoid by pushing right (but) was unable to avoid the collision," Wilson explained. " ... vessel one hit (Rushin's boat) pretty well head on, at an angle, on the front, port side.
" ... the impact pushed them to a shallow portion of the river, which was under 1 foot. The boats pretty much came to a stop since it was so shallow."
Bollinger and his occupant, Brandy A. Smyth, 50, of Dexter, both were ejected from their boat.
Rushin and his passengers, Cali D. Murphy, 16, Kirk P. Murphy, 35, and Shannon E. Sisson, 32, all of Poplar Bluff, also were ejected.
The occupants landed in approximately six to 12 inches of water, said Wilson, who indicated all life jackets were "inaccessible."
Cali Murphy, Wilson said, landed face down in the water.
According to Wilson, there were houses on the bank above that portion of the river, and "nearby bystanders heard the crash.
"Two individuals went to the bank (but) were unable to get across the river" because they did not have a boat.
"Luckily, I was a mile away," Wilson said. " ... I had my boat with me; I was on the scene within nine minutes."
The two bystanders, Wilson said, "hopped in (to his boat) with no hesitation" and "helped with first aid, anything I asked. They were awesome."
When Wilson arrived, he described the scene as being "not good. It was the worse one I've ever worked.
"Everyone still was laying in the water. A couple had climbed into the boats."
Wilson described the injuries as being "pretty bad. Everyone had visible injuries."
Cali Murphy was found unresponsive, said Wilson, who indicated Rushin had been helping to keep the teen's head out of the water.
After administering first aid, "I got (the teen) in my boat first (and) took her to the south bank," Wilson explained. "As soon as we got to the bank, we started CPR.
"Trooper (Greg) Ulm and Trooper (Chance) Berry were there to assist me with CPR," said Wilson. "We administered CPR until EMS got there."
Once Cali Murphy was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance, Wilson said, he and Berry went back to get the others.
Bollinger, Smyth, Kirk Murphy and Sisson reportedly suffered serious injuries, while Rushin suffered moderate injuries.
"There was three to four with life-threatening injuries," said Wilson, who indicated Rushin was talking.
Cali Murphy was transported by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional, where she was pronounced dead at 8:51 p.m. by a doctor there.
Smyth and Rushin also were taken to the Poplar Bluff hospital for treatment.
"We had three helicopters" land nearby, said Wilson.
Bollinger and Sisson were flown to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., for treatment, while Kirk Murphy was flown to Regional One Health in Memphis, Tenn.
Wilson said he made initial contact with Bollinger and Rushin and got statements from them.
Both had been "just out casually boating," Wilson said. "They had been out on gravel bars most of the day.
"Bollinger was heading to Hendrickson boat ramp," where he had put in earlier in the day.
Rushin, he said, was coming upstream after having dropped some people off at the boat ramp.
Bollinger was arrested at 8:08 p.m. on suspicion of boating while intoxicated (death of another), three counts of boating while intoxicated (serious physical injury) and boating while intoxicated (physical injury).
"There was an admission of drinking, an admission of driving the boat, a strong odor of alcohol and other observations of impairment," Wilson said in regard to Bollinger's arrest.
Field-sobriety tests, Wilson said, were conducted on Rushin.
"He was not impaired," Wilson said.
Both boats were removed from the river and are in "locked storage" at this time, said Wilson.
Interviews, he said, will be conducted with all occupants of both boats.
The patrol's Major Crash Investigation Unit for boating-related crashes already has began its investigation, and its members will examine the boats and scene on Wednesday, said Wilson.
Investigators with Troop E's Division of Drug and Crime Control also are assisting in the investigation, Wilson said.
"Once we do the interviews (and) the crash team does their investigation, all of this should be concluded" regarding the crash investigation, Wilson said.
At that point, Wilson said, all reports will be sent to the Butler County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for review and the filing of formal charges.