On 7/30/2010 at approximtely 1710 hrs I responded to a report a of a boat collision that occurred 1/4 mile east of Zittles Marina.  Dispatch advised both boat's involved had returned to Zittles Marina and were waiting for contact at the dock.  I contacted both parties involved and the passenger that was on vessel #2.  I spoke with the operator of vessel #2 and his passenger both parties gave me the same account of the incident.  Their vessel was not under power they where drifting with the current when they observed vessel #1 approaching them on a plane at approximately 25 mph or so headed straight for the port side of the vessel.  V2 said that the operator of vessel #1 was looking down and never looked up until after the impact.  V2 said they had to follow vessel #1 for a short time to get him to stop and then return to Zittles Marina.

I spoke with the operator of vessel #1 he told me that he was traveling on a plane at approximately 25 mph whne he suddenly hit somethin on the starboard side of his vessel.  V1 said that he was traveling into the sun a the time but he was also looking down at his gauges on his vessel when the impact occurred.  V1 said that he never observed the other veseel at all before the impact.  I could smell a slight odor of intoxicants about V1 during my interview with, he spoke clearly and was not having trouble putting sentences together.  I asked V1 if he had been driinking today he said yes he had a couple of drinks a few ago.  I asked V1 to perform some field tests for me which he passed.  I advised V1 that he would be recieing a citation in the mail for negligent opeation based on the facts of the collision.  

The waterway had very little traffic on it and this part of the PUget SOund is very open and free of any obstructions for lots of boat manueveruing.  V1 also confirmed that he was looking down at his gauges and not paying attention to his direction of travel.

The involved parties were advised that I would be mailing the Citizen BAR to them and to complete it and return it.
Olympia                       