Based on the witness statement, Operator was maneuvering the vessel under South Bridge clockwise when a protruding plastic portion of the trolling motor on the vessel lightly struck the bridge (A-2). At which point, Operator put the vessel in reverse and went under the Black Pearl Catwalk. Based on statement and damage to the vessel, it appeared that, as the vessel was going under the catwalk, the motor struck a pillar of the catwalk (B-4, paint transfer on the pillar and missing paint on the motor), followed by the starboard aft of the vessel above the rub rail (B-2,scuffs and fiberglass splintering). Next, the anchor light struck the catwalk and broke at the base of the pole and just under the light portion (B-3). Then, as the middle section of the vessel went under the catwalk, Operator's neck became pinned between the railing above his center console and the bottom of the catwalk (C-3, gouges to the railing from the catwalk concrete, gouges in the concrete, and C-2, broken windshield). Also, as a result of going under the catwalk, 6 of the 7 rods in the rod holders located on the center console were damaged (B-1 and C-1, rod tips broken off). During the accident, the starboard side rub rail was dragged along the pillar from aft to bow. After clearing the catwalk, Operator fell to the deck of the vessel on the starboard side of the center console. Operator received two fracture vertebrae in his neck, abrasions to his left shoulder and back, and a shallow laceration to the front of his neck to the right of his esophagus.; 

Operator received two fractured vertebrae in his neck due to the force applied to his neck from the metal railing above the center console and the concrete of the catwalk. He received a shallow laceration to the front of his neck, to the right of esophagus, most likely caused by a broken fishing rod when he fell to the deck of the boat. He received abrasions to his left shoulder and parts of his back when those parts of his body were being dragged against the concrete of the catwalk.
FORT PIERCE