Investigation revealed at the time of the accident, there was 16 people onboard the yellow Carrera and 2 people onboard the Well Craft. 13 of the 16 people onboard the Carrera were ejected into the water after impact.  Both occupants onboard the Well Craft were also ejected into the water after impact. I observed the Well Craft vessel was capsized and partially submerged.  All of the occupants were accounted for and were all on the yellow Carrera. There was 8 people transported  to area hospitals for precautionary reasons. 
I identified both operators to determine their vessel's direction of travel at the time of the accident.  They both gave me the same directions of travel for each boat. The operator of the Well Craft stated he was traveling in a Northerly direction along the west side of Elliot Key in the area of Sands Cut. The operator of the Carrera stated she was traveling in Westerly direction from Sands Cut sand bar towards Black Point Marina. Both operators stated their vessels were on plane at the time of the accident and never saw the other vessel. 

The Well Craft impacted the Carrera slightly forward of the center console on the port side causing extensive damage to the Well Craft's bow, which in turn caused the Well Craft vessel to take on water and capsize, and later sank under the water. 

The Carrera received structural damage, midship on it's Port side of the vessel. In addition the operator was having engine problems after the accident. 

The following conclusion is based on physical evidence and witness statement I cited both operators involved as below. 

My Investigation into the boating accident revealed both vessel operator's were in violation of United States Coast Guard Navigation Rules to wit vessel #1, Wellcraft was the Give Way vessel in a crossing situation and according to navigational rule #15 "when two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel". According to this rule the Well Craft had the duty to yield to the Carrera in this crossing situation. 

Both vessel operators, vessel #1 the Well Craft and vessel #2 the Carrera, were in violation of navigational rule #7 Risk of Collision to wit: every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exist. If there is any doubt such risk be deemed to exist. Suck risk shall be deemed to exist particularly when approaching a vessel at close range.

Both vessel operators, vessel #1 the Well Craft and vessel #2 the Carrera, stated they never saw the other vessel. According to navigational rule #5 Look- out, every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well by available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and condition so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and the risk of collision.

Vessel operator #1 was cited for violation of navigational rule 15 " Failure to give way in a crossing situation" and was issued warnings for violation of Rule # 5 " Improper look-out" and Rule 7 "Risk of Collision".

Vessel operator #2 was issued warnings for violation of Rule # 5 " Improper look-out" and Rule 7 "Risk of Collision".
CUTLER RIDGE