On August 4th, 2013, at approximately 1730 hrs, I, Officer, was on land patrol when I was  dispatched to a boating accident/capsized vessel.  Information from the reporting party and Jupiter PD was that there were two occupants in the vessel and they were uninjured.  I responded and arrived on scene at approximately 1745 hrs and observed a capsized vessel with its bow protruding from the water along with a center console detached and floating next to the capsized vessel.  I was unable to obtain photographs of the capsized vessel at the scene.

I made contact with the owner/operator of the vessel identified by name and date of birth.  I also confirmed with Operator that there was only one other passenger on the vessel whom I identified by name and date of birth.  I interviewed the owner/operator Operator and he gave an account of how the accident/capsizing happened.  Operator claimed he was traveling on plane in a Southwest direction behind the residence when he suddenly and inexplicably lost control of his vessel, capsizing the vessel and ultimately sinking it.  Operator later removed the vessel from the channel with help from another vessel on the water.

The home owner advised me there was a surveillance system on her residence and  it possibly captured the event on camera.  The home owner was able to locate the event recorded on her surveillance system and I was able to observe of the accident taking place on camera and the event I observed was consistent with the events that Operator described to me.  At a later date, after inspecting the vessel after being pulled from the water, I determined that the engine bracket broke loose causing the vessel to lose control and capsize.  Photographs of damage attached.  From the surveillance video, I did observe operator violating a slow speed zone and he was issued a warning for the violation. A copy of the video was unable to be recorded from the homeowners surveillance system.
JUPITER