This was a single vessel accident. Vessel #1 was traveling in a south bound direction within st. Josephs sound in the intracoastal waterway just outside an area known as pirates cove in the city of dunedin. Operator of the personal watercraft was inattentive and struck what evidence indicates a piling in the waterway at approximately 10 to 20 mph. The vessel's portside bow was the primary contact point on the watercraft. Once the object was struck the operator was thrown off the vessel striking his head and face area against the object hit. This temporarily knocked him unconscious for a short period of time. Operator was assisted out of the water and back on the damager watercraft where they immediately returned to dunedin water sports. Evidence based on location of injury, abrasions on facial area and the damage on the watercraft as well as the transfer of the wood material left on the vessel indicates the striking of a piling. Attempt was made to find the piling that was struck but was unsuccessful. The area that the collision occurred was given by both Operator and the other person in his party which could be inaccurate. This accident was not witnessed by anyone. Operator had a fracture to the left side of his jaw and numerous facial abrasions and abrasions to his left arm area, non-life threatening. Operator was transported to st. Joseph's hospital and released from the hospital that evening. Operator provided only limited information.
DUNEDIN