On 10/20/13 at approximately 1630 hours, V1 a 19 feet, 2007 Champion vessel bearing Florida registration FL 3050 NP, struck V2 while traveling southbound underneath the Dodge Island Bridge while in the Intra coastal Waterway.  V2 is a 1981, 36 feet Seidelmann sailboat bearing a Florida registration of FL 5418 HE.  There were no injuries sustained to any occupants on board both vessels and total estimated damages are approximately 4000 dollars.  

On 10/20/13 at approximately 1630 hours, while on water patrol in the North end of Miami Dade County, I received a call from FWC dispatch in reference to a boating accident involving 2 vessels located at Dodge Island Bridge in the Intra coastal Waterway.  USCG Miami was already on scene and was requesting FWC law enforcement assistance to investigate the boating accident.  Due to inclement weather in the North end of the county, I was unable to respond until approximately 1730 hours and I arrived on scene at approximately 1800 hours.  Upon arrival, I met with USCG Miami and made contact with both vessels involved in the boating accident.  I ascertained that there were no injuries to any occupants aboard both vessels and began to investigate the accident further.  I observed fiberglass damage on the port side of V1 (FL 3050 NP) and a chunk of fiberglass damaged from the bow of V2 (FL 5418 HE).  V1 was occupied by 6 individuals and V2 had 5 individuals on board.  I obtained written statements from the operator of V1 and the operator of V2 however, I did not observe them operating the vessels at the time of the accident.  There were no witnesses on scene upon my arrival.

Based on my observations of damage assessment to both vessels and the 2 statements provided, I made the determination that V1, FL 3050 NP was the give way vessel and at fault.
MIAMI