On 8/19/2012 between noon and 1:00 pm a 13' Sea Doo PWC was headed south on Puget Sound near the town of Gig Harbor.  The vessel was approximately 100' from shore and operating at a speed of about 60 MPH.  Operator thought that his I-phone was falling out of his pocket and as he reached down to retrieve it, he unwittingly turned the helm to the left.  The vessel grounded on shore and Operator was thrown from the vessel off the starboard side landing on the rocks where he was cut, scratched and bruised from striking the rocks and barnacles on shore. 

The incident occurred at low tide and deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office could not locate the exact location of the grounding because that area was covered by 4' of water. 
  
he operator had all necessary safety equipment on the vessel at the time of the incident and was wearing a Type III PFD  The lanyard for the vessel kill switch was attached to the vessel and his vest.  There was no evidence of alcohol and the operator was not taken to the hospital.   Damages to the boat were estimated at $2,000.00.  
 
No citation was issued to the operator for a rules of the road violation or negligent operation.  In Washington state these are classified as infraction violations that require direct visual observation by an officer to issue citation.

Gig Harbor                    