The passenger of the PWC, was being transported to Shands hospital in Jacksonville. She was awake and responsive but had hit here head on the rocks and also had a cut on her lower  leg. Cpl. began interviewing the operator about what took place. Operator stated that he was operating the PWC going up river on the east bank when a boat came down river  and he turned left to jump the wake of the passing boat. Operator stated that when he landed he tried to turn the PWC to the left  but it wouldn't turn and that he was headed for the rocks along the bank. Operator stated that he told Occupant to hold on that they were going to hit the rocks. On impact Occupant was thrown into the rocks and hit her head. Cpl asked if it was possible that he might have  let off  of the gas causing the PWC to loose steering. Operator said that that was possilble but he thought something had broken with the steering. The boat that the PWC had jumped its  wake saw the impact and came to the scene, called 911, and took Occupant into their boat and took her to the boat ramp to stand by for EMS. The operator of the boat and his wife, were both interviewed by Cpl. 

Vessel2s stated that the PWC jumped the wake of his boat at a high rate of speed. Cpl. asked if the PWC was within 100 ft of his boat and he stated that it was not. Vessel2s stated that the PWC didn't have a lot of room to turn before hitting the rocks along the bank. V2 occupant said she could see the operator turning the steering but the PWC went into the rocks. V2 occupant stated that the passenger came off the back of the PWC and hit very hard into the flat piece of concrete. The passenger appeared to be knocked out for a short period of time. The PWC was left at the impact area and the operator , walked back down the bank to the boat landing which was located 400 yards down river.

    During the interview of Operator he stated to Cpl. that he had drank 4-5 beers through out the day. Operator's eyes were red and a small odor of alcohol could be observed. Operator was given a BUI Screening Interview along with  field exercises to determine if he was intoxicated at the time of the interview. Implied consent was read and Operator agreed to a State administered  blood test. Charges could be pending on results of the test.

 The PWC was taken to Camden SO substation were measurements and pictures were taken. The steering was checked and appeared to be working correctly.
victim was released from the hospital the same evening after being checked out in the ER. Occupant had a concussion and also received stitches in her left leg between her knee and her ankle.
ST MARYS