Officer arrived on scene on the south side of the caloosahatchee river at lake hickpochee. I observed a vessel up on the rocks and canting severly to the port side. I observed a truck and trailer near the boat ramp with a glades county sheriffs deputy parked adjacent to the apparently wrecked vessel. 

I made contact with deputy and two subjects and advised them that i would be taking care of the vessel accident. I identified the owner/operator of the vessel at the time of the accident by fl drivers license. I identified the passenger as the wife of the operator. 

I asked Operator what exactly had happened that day. Operator advised me that he picked his wife up from the lake hickpochee boat ramp, which is on the south side of the caloosahatchee river. He told me that he and his wife were traveling eastbound towards moore haven to go look at a house on the river. Operator advised me that he was operating the vessel and his wife was sitting directly in front of him on a seat that was built into the front of the center console. He advised me that he just got his vessel on a plane and was running approximately 25 miles per hour in the channel. He then advised me that his wife asked him a question and that the next thing he knew they were up on the rocks. He advised me that after they hit, he and his wife fell overboard into the water. I then asked him how his vessel ended up on the rocks and he told me that he must have hit something under the water that made his vessel veer. 

Next i asked occupant what she remembered about the accident. She advised me that her husband picked her up from the boat ramp and that they were going down the river to look at a house. She told me that she stood up and turned around from her seat and was straddling the center console, facing Operator. She advised me that she asked her husband a question but she could not remember what it was. She advised me that the next thing she knew, they hit the rocks and she fell in the water. She then told me that she had pain in her lower back. She said that she must have hit something when they hit the rocks. I asked occupant several times if she wanted an ambulance and she continued to say no. She advised me that she was going to the doctor after they finished with the boat.

Due to my training and experience, i conclude that due to the fact that occupant turned around to talk to Operator, his attention was diverted from operating his vessel. I believe that Operators vision was partially impeded due to the fact that his wife stood up and turned around in her seat now straddling the console. Operator failed to have a proper look out, and due to his inattention to operating his vessel in the channel the vessel began to drift towards the southern bank of the river and eventually struck the rocks.

I will be issuing Operator two warnings (w-569645) for improper lookout and also unsafe speed. End of report, nothing further at this time.; occupant injury: Due to the impact of the vessel striking, occupant apparently fell backwards towards the bow(front) of the vessel striking the raised edge of the decking in the bow. Occupant then fell overboard into the water. Her husband advised she fell over the portside gunwale. Occupant complained of pain in the small of her back. Occupant refused any type of treatment from ems.
MOORE HAVEN                   