Operators of vessels 1 and 2 were in a non related vessel with three other people for a total of five occupants.  The occupants of this non related vessel were engaged in wake boarding near Goat Island on Lake Worth.  The occupants of the non related vessel later began to hang out with the owners of vessels 1 and 2.  There were three people in the group of vessel 1 and 2 owners.  The two groups began to chat and offered each other to exchange rides on their equipment.  The non related vessel allowed the owners of vessels 1 and 2 to wake board with them in exchange for letting the people in the non related vessel operate vessels 1 and 2.   Both operators of vessels 1 and 2 were not the owners (they were people from the non related vessel).  Operator of vessel 1 was seen operating in a reckless manner prior to accident.  Witnesses stated that he had come within 15 feet of them and sprayed them with water from vessel's jet drive.  After operator of vessel 2 dropped off a passenger, operator of vessel 2 left shore and was travelling at idle speed away from shore.  Operator of vessel 2 saw operator of vessel 1 approaching in a fast manner while engaged in a turn.  Operator of vessel 2 braced and leaned vessel 2 in a manner to keep from being hit in his body.  Operator of vessel 1 was thrown into vessel 2 and ended up in the water apparently unresponsive. Bystanders and occupants from the non related vessel helped to load operator 1 from the water into non related vessel and transported him to shore.

911 was called by Owner of vessel 2.  When the people involved arrived on shore, the owner of the non related vessel asked the owner of vessel 2 who he was talking to.  The non related vessel owner told the owner of vessel 2 not to call the cops because operator 1 had been drinking.  By this time ems and Lake Worth Marshall's arrived on scene.  Marshalls took initial report and then called me.  I arrived on scene almost an hour after the initial call came in.  I interviewed the people involved and then went to hospital to check on operator 1.  After interviewing people on shore, I believed operator 1 had been consuming alcohol.  

Upon arrival to hospital, operator 1 was in obvious pain.  He was being treated for broken ribs, fractured arm and punctured lung.  Operator 1 did admit to drinking alcohol prior to accident.  Operator 1 did not know that he had ran into his friend on the other pwc, leading me to believe he never saw what he hit.  Operator 1 also alleged that he was hit by operator 2.

After interviews with all witnesses and looking at the damage on the two vessels.  I believe that the operator of vessel 1 was operating recklessly and not paying attention to what he was doing.

Operator 1 was issued a citation for reckless/negligent operation and warned for excessive speed and violation of the 50 ft law.  Citation # A967349.


Fort Worth                    