Vessel #1 - 19' Open Motorboat, WN 199 SXN was traveling North/North East in Pickering Passage with 1 person onboard.

Vessel # 2 - 36' Cabin Motorboat, WN 2411 R was travelling South / South West rounding the north end of Squaxin Island in Pickering Passage with 2 people onboard.

Vessel #1 collided with vessel #2 as vessel #1 was rounding the north end of Squaxin Island.

The operator of vessel #1 had been on the water with two friends all afternoon.  Operator1 admitted to investigators that he had consumed 10+ beers in the few hours before the collision.  Operator1 dropped his two friends off at the southeast Arcadia Shores Boat Ramp located at the mouth of Hammersley Inlet further south.  Operator1 said that he was trying to go around Squaxin Island as "fast as he could and had the boat at full throttle".  He was not wearing a lifejacket and he told the investigating officers that he always stands when operating his vessel.  

The operator of vessel #2 and his wife were heading south.  They saw a small boat heading towards their starboard side at a high rate of speed.  They could not see the operator of the boat but could tell that the boat was heading directly towards them. As they recounted the collision, they said that all of a sudden the small boat struck their boat in the starboard bow.  

The v2 occupants put on their lifejackets and then put their dinghy in the water.  They were concerned that the boat would sink because the collision with had made such a huge hole in their boat.  The occupanats then rescued Operator1 by putting him in their dinghy.  Vessel #1 operated by Operator1 took on a lot of water and then capsized.

The operator (vessel #1) was taken to the hospital and was treated for back and neck injuries.  Hospital staff performed a blood draw and his blood alcohol content level was at .189.

Passenger (vessel #2) was taken to the hospital where she also received treatment for an sprain/strain injury when she was thrown about in the cabin as a result of the collision. 

Note:  As of 02/06/12 this case is open and scheduled to be tried in court in early 2012.
Shelton                       