On 7/4/10 at approximately 3:00 PM, I (CPO) was approached by one person at the Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area's boat ramp about a boat accident that occured between the boat he was on and a Personal Watercraft.  I approached the boat he was on and talked to the driver/owner of the boat, Operator2.  Operator2 advised me he and subject were cruising downstream on his red 1989 22 ft. Baha on the Kankakee River just upstream of the County Line Bridge, when a PWC was crossing the river and hit the port side of his boat.  I looked at the port side of his watercraft and could see a hole just above the waterline.  The approximate size of the hole was 1" x 6".  Operator2 said they checked to see if the occupants of the PWC were injured, then followed them to their house.  Operator2 also stated he did not see the PWC until the last second and turned hard to the starboard side.  I asked Operator2 and subject if they sustained any injuries, and they said no.

I then followed Operator2 and subject back to the residence of the occupants of the PWC.  I spoke with the driver of the PWC, and his father.  operator1 advised me he was crossing the river coming around the last island before the County Line bridge and did not see the ski boat until he had almost hit it.  At that time he turned hard to the port side and struck the ski boat with the bow of the PWC, just slightly on the starboard side.  All three occupants were ejected from the PWC on the port side near the transom.  I asked if anyone on the PWC was injured, and they said no.

At that time CPO  arrived at the residence and took information from operator1 and the other two occupants of the PWC.  I went back to the DPSFWA boat launch and asked Operator2 and subject to fill out a Voluntary Statement Form.  I then took pictures of Operator2's watercraft and gave him his copy of the Boat Accident Report.

At approximately 5:00 PM I returned to the residence of the PWC and took pictures of it.  It had slight scratches with red paint transfer on the bows rubber bumber.  I advised operator1 and his father that I would be in contact with them after I completed my investigation and gave operator1 his copy of the Boat Accident Report.

After reviewing the evidence it is in my opinion that operato1 is at fault in this incident.  The interviews and the location of damages to both vessels show that operator1 should have given way to the vessel on his right.  Further, with the amount of traffic on the river, greater attention should have been paid to the direction that he was traveling.  

On 7/8/10 I again met with operator1 and his father and advised them of my findings and wrote operator1 written warning I323585 for ILCS 625, 45, 45/5-13 (Failure to grant right of way when crossing another vessel).
Wilmington                    