Vessel struck channel marker 7A in Snake Creek

On the above date and time I (Officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) responded to a vessel accident with injuries that was called in by US Coast Guard station Islamorada. When I arrived at station Islamorada the injured person had already been transported to the hospital for a laceration on his left eyebrow and a broken ankle. The vessel sustained significant damage to the port side bow area when it hit the green channel marker 7A while coming in from the ocean into Snake Creek. The vessel operator stated that there was another boat heading out snake creek that was swerving back and forth in the channel and it forced him to move over to the left side of the channel. Operator said that when he hit the other boats wake it pushed his bow up and over toward the marker and when the bow came down he was headed straight at the marker. Pictures were taken of the damaged vessel as well as the channel marker. Operator was issued a citation for careless operation of a vessel. No further action.  


ISLAMORADA                    