On May 27th, 2013 at approximately 2:15 PM, FWC Officer and I were notified by FWC Dispatch about a single vessel PWC accident which had occurred in the area of NW 2nd Ave and 200th Street in Miami Gardens.  Upon arrival, we met with a Miami Gardens PD Community Service Aide who had also responded to the boating accident call.  She informed us that she had gathered all of the information from the owner/operator regarding the accident but had let him leave the area with the PWC.  She provided us with all the information she had obtained.

Off. and I responded to the owner's residence in order to obtain information needed to complete a boating accident report.  At approximately 3:45 PM we met with the owner.  He informed us that he had taken the PWC to a nearby storage facility.  We responded to the storage facility to inspect the PWC.  Upon inspection, we found the PWC had sustained considerable fiberglass damage to its starboard side chine.  Off. took several photographs of the PWC while I gathered information from Operator about the accident.

He informed me that he was headed westbound in the Snake Creek Canal just west of the boat ramp.  As he went under the NW 2nd Ave overpass, he turned around to head back east.  As he was making the turn, he stated the strong winds were pushing him toward one of the concrete pillars under the bridge.  He pressed the throttle in an attempt to avoid colliding with the pillar.  He stated he jumped off the PWC when he noticed he would not be able to avoid the collision.  The PWC's starboard side struck the concrete pillar.
Operator was uninjured in the accident.
MIAMI