On 8-18-2012 RIDEM officers responded to a report of grounded boat at Conimicut Point in Warwick with one person bleeding from the head. When officers arrived, the female victim had already been transported to RI Hospital. He husband and operator of the boat left the scene to accompany his wife at the hospital. The boat was removed from the sandbar and towed to Cranston Yacht club.  When officers arrived at the yacht club, Off. inventoried the boat and then conducted a boating safety inspection.  They were unable to locate any valid flare kit.  All on board were expired. They located 1 adult PFD and 2 child PFD’s, however the adult had multiple rips and was in poor condition. Off. then left the scene and made contact with the victim at the hospital. victim suffered a laceration to the back of her head as well as bruising to her neck, back and ribs. Over the course of the interview, Off. learned that operator had no knowledge of boating rules or safety for safe operation of a boat, nor did he have any formal training. According to statement he advised officers that he was at the wheel headed north towards Edgewood traveling 15-20mph when the vessel ran aground on Conimicut Pt. Neither of the subjects was injured at that point.  Victim stated that her injury occurred well after the boat came to rest a second time. She was attempting to go down inside the cabin when she slipped off the top step and fell down below into the cabin. She struck the back of her head on the metal splash guard of the top step. The other injuries were from striking the stairs with her back, neck and ribs. She then called for help.  Operator was issued a summons for no visual distress signals and insufficient PFD’s.  it was later learned the victim sustained 3 broken vertebrae in her back as well as chest contusions.
WARWICK                       