Upon arriving at the reporting parties camp in the back of Gunsight Cyn I was met by two people.  Subject1 informed me that his mother (Operator2) and mother-in-law (V2 Occupant) had been on a PWC (Vessel 2) idling away from their camp.  He stated that two other PWC's came into that same area.  The first PWC with two people on board drove past Vessel 2 but that the second PWC (Vessel 1) struck Vessel 2 and that Vessel 1 was being operated by a young male he had identified as Operator1.  Subject1 told me that he was a firefighter/paramedic and that Operator2 might have a broken ankle and V2 occupant also had injuries to her leg.  I asked Subject1 to take some witness statements to his houseboat and have anyone who witnessed the accident fill one out.

I then contacted the person Subject1 had identified as the operator of Vessel 1.  He identified himself to me as Operator1 (later telling me his full name) and told me that he was operating the PWC that struck the other PWC and the females on it. Operator1 was obviously remorseful and wanted to know if I had any information on the females medical condition.  I told him that I did not but that they were going to be transported via ambulance to the Page Hospital for treatment.

I interviewed Operator1 about what had occurred in the accident.  OPERATOR1 stated that he was operating the PWC, following his friends who were on a separate PWC.  He said he was watching his friends in front of him, following approximately 100 ft. behind them.  He stated he did not see Vessel 2 until he was approximately 50 ft. from it and that he immediately let completely off the throttle.  He stated he tried to turn the handle bars to avoid the collision but it did not turn.  OPERATOR1 stated he struck them and then immediately jumped off his PWC to swim over to them and see if they were okay.  I asked OPERATOR1 why he did not or could not see them before he was within 50 ft. of them and he stated he did not know.  I asked OPERATOR1 if he had much experience driving a PWC and he stated he did not.

I asked OPERATOR1 and the two other operators who were uninvolved to fill out witness statements while I looked at the damage to the two PWC's involved in the accident.  Vessel 1 had some damage to the bow on the rub rail and the fiberglass above it.  It also had some scratches on the hull under the rub rail and paint transfer that matched the colors on Vessel 2.  Vessel 2 had damage to the fiberglass and the rub rail on the starboard side below where the driver would be seated.  It also had damage to the plastic and fiberglass below the handle bars.  The steering column and handle bars were bent up and toward the port side.  The right side handle bar was missing the hand grip and the throttle control was broken off.  The mirror on the starboard side was broken and it's cover had scratch marks on top of it.

