06/30/2013 - Corporal  was notified by SOC at 0403 hrs in reference to a boating incident in the Savannah River. It was reported that a private vessel had struck the dredge line. 

Operator1 was interviewed. He stated they had put the vessel in at approximately 2330-2400 midnight on 6/29/2013. Operator1 stated that he drove the vessel down to river street then friend operated the vessel back up river. Operator1 and Friend was at helm while two others were positioned in the bow. Upon striking the dredge line Operator1, occupant, and Friend were ejected. Occupant2 was still in the boat.

Both Operator1 and occupant  had the odor of alcoholic beverages on their breath.

AT 0645 hrs. Cpl. met with RFC  at Chandler Hospital Emergency Department in Savannah, GA. The officers were unable to speak with occupant2 due to her injuries of broken ribs and a punctured/deflated lung. Officers spoke with Friend who recounted the same story except that he claims that Operator1 was the operator because it was his boat and that he was familiar with the river. 

Friend also claimed that everyone had been drinking, and he and his wife had enough that they did not want to drive. Friend stated that Operator was driving at the time of the crash. Friend suffered injury to his ribs on his right side. Friend claimed he was standing to Operator's left with his right hand on the console at the time of the collision. 

There was damage to the hull consistent with running over the dredge. The widnshield was broken under the bar on the left side of the console. There were approximately 14 beers in the cooler and an empty in the bilge. There was not a stern light attached.

On 07/01/2013 Cpl. met with GA Port Authority to view surveillance camera footage of the incident. The video shows the vessel approaching the dredge line at a high rate of speed towards the dredge. The dredge was well
SAVANNAH