Operator and Passenger on Vessel (A) were trolling when they noticed Vessel (B) heading in their direction. They stood up and began waving their arms and hollering in an attempt to get the Operator of Vessel (B) to turn away from them. Vessel (B) continued in their direction and just before it was about to hit them, vessel (B) made a sudden turn to its' port side. Vessel (B) then impacted with Vessel (A) sending both the Operator and Passenger of Vessel (A) flying across the deck and into the railing. Vessel (B) slid off the aft starboard side of Vessel (A). The Operator of Vessel (B) apologized for hitting them and said that he could see them because of the two passengers he had in the bow. Both vessels went in to the boat launch where they were met by a Rescue unit. The Operator and Passenger of Vessel (A) were taken to the hospital to have their injuries checked out. No one onboard Vessel (B) were injured.

Witnesses onshore stated that Vessel (B) was riding with its' bow high in the air and could see two passengers sitting up in the bow. The Operator was sitting down and could not possibly see over the bow anything that was infront of him.

When I interviewed the Operator of Vessel (B), he stated that he was operating with the bow up and that he could not see what was infront of him. He stated that he was sitting down and that maybe if he had been standing he would have seen Vessel (A). It was not until the very last second that he saw Vessel (A) and that was when he made a hard turn to the port to try to avoid hitting but it was too late. He struck Vessel (A) slightly forward of the stern on its' starboard side with the starboard side of Vessel (B) slightly aft of the bow. Neither Vessel sustained much damage.
Porter                        