On January 12th 2013, I responded to a boat accident just south of Monument Island. I arrived on scene at approximately 1730. I interviewed the vessel 1 operator and determined he was traveling north west toward Japanese Gardens after receiving an audible engine failure tone. Vessel 1 operator stated he was initially heading south east when he heard the engine failure tone. V1operator stated he completed a 180 degree turn and was traveling approximately 8 kts (ENGINE WAS IN SAFE MODE) when he saw the same PWC that had previously been jumping his wake headed toward his bow. Once V1operator saw that impact was imminent, he backed down on his engines to full reverse and slightly turned east bound to avoid collision and reduce impact. The PWC operator, V2operator, struck the starboard bow of vessel 1 with the rear port quarter of the PWC. V2operator later admitted to have been wake jumping and was not paying attention to his direction of travel when he struck V1operator's vessel. No one reported any injuries. V2operator was cited by the USCG for careless operation of a PWC. No other citations issued.
MIAMI