V1 WAS WAS HEADING WEST IN THE CHANNEL TOWARDS THE CHARLOTTE HARBOR. V1 OPERATOR BEGAN TO ARGUE WITH A PASSENGER IN HIS VESSEL, WHEN HE EXITED HIS TOWER LEAVING THE VESSEL IN GEAR. WHILE ARGUING, THE VESSEL CONTINUED THROUGH CHANNEL WHERE IT STRUCK THE RED CHANNEL MARKER #8 ON ITS STARBOARD SIDE. THE VESSEL WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. ONCE THE VESSEL STRUCK THE CHANNEL MARKER IT PITCHED SLIGHTLY TO THE PORT SIDE WHERE IT RUBBED THE OUTER GUNWALE OF THE VESSEL NEAR THE CHIME. THE VESSEL OPERATOR WAS ARRESTED FOR BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE/DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE BY THE PUNTA GORDA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
PUNTA GORDA                   