Vessel #1, a 24''0" pontoon boat w/ 200 h.p. outboard prop motor, was reportedly traveling Northbound on the Rock River on plane West of the center channel carrying 2 people.  Vessel #2, a 23''0" fiberglass v-bottom runabout w/ 300 h.p. Inboard/outboard prop motor, was traveling in gear just above idle speed Southbound parallel to the West shoreline of the Rock River along the 5000 block of Brown''s Beach Road carrying one passenger.  
Occupants of Vessel #1 as well as witnesses on shore reported seeing vessel #2 operating without navigation lights prior to the collision.  Vessel #1 reportedly changed course several times navigating to and paralleling the West shoreline on a collision course with Vessel #2.  At the moment prior to collision, Vessel #1 reportedly sees Vessel #2 and sharply turned left towards the West shoreline across the bow of Vessel #2 to avoid a collision.  At the same moment, Vessel #2 accelerated while veering right towards the West shoreline avoid a head-on collision with Vessel #1.  Vessel #1''s bow and starboard (right) side collided with vessel #2''s bow and port (left) side.  
After the collision, Vessel #1''s engine stalled as it drifted toward the West shoreline.  Vessel #1''s passengers jump out of vessel #1 near to shore into the river then walk away from the scene down Brown''s Beach Road.  The operator of vessel #1 gives his first and last name to the occupants of vessel #2 and requests they give him a tow from the scene.  Occupant of vessel #2 had already dialed 911 on her cell phone and and was relaying instructions operator1 that they were directed to remain at the scene.   Operator1 reportedly jumped out of his pontoon boat near shore then waded upstream while pulling his 24''0" pontoon boat using his bow line to a nearby private dock.  There he found friend and girlfriend on their patio eating dinner.  Operator1 requested and obtained a ride from the scene by friend back to his residence to change clothes prior to law enforcements arrival.  
The v2 occupants remained at the accident scene in their boat idling until law enforcement arrived.  V2 aft light was activated but not the bow light was not due to it being destroyed in the collision.  Operator2 left hand was cut and bleeding and he could not move his left arm.  After giving initial information to law enforcement, operator2 is driven to Swedish American Hospital by other person where he is diagnosed with a fractured collar bone and dislocated left shoulder from being thrown from the operator seat into the windshield at impact.  He was treated and released.  The other was not injured in the accident.
It was later discovered that operator1 was driven later in the morning to Rockford Memorial Hospital by his girlfriend where he was diagnosed with bruised abdomen and bruised right elbow.  He was not provided any medication and was released. 
Although operator1 gave v2 subjects his name, it was uncertain who was the operator of Vessel #1 due to the fact it was registered and titled to another person.  With the assistance of Deputy of the Winnebago County Sheriff''s office I was able to obtain a current address for operator1.  In a later interview the following afternoon, operator1 stated he immediately left the scene because he wanted to go to the hospital due to the severe pain in his abdomen.  Despite the pain described by operator1, he was able pull his 24''0" pontoon boat upstream while wading in the river to a private dock prior to leaving.  

Rockford                      