ON 08/25/2012, at approximately 4:30 pm, the two subjects were each operating personal watercraft on Banks Lake in Grant County.  The vessels were rentals from KJ Watersports out of Coulee City, WA. Both operators were 16 years of age. 

The subjects were operating their PWCs on the lake and turning circles or, "doughnuts", when they collided head on.  Operator1 reported only a minor injury (stiff neck), and Operator2 was not injured but both vessels sustained significant damage.  From the evidence, it was apparent that the impact was nearly head-on.  The front end of both vessels were showing significant fiberglass damage and crushing. 

Both Operator1 and Operator2 admitted that they were not the 200 feet apart that they had been directed to maintain by both the vessel owner KJ Watersports and their grandfather.  The marine patrol deputy explained to both boys that they had equal responsibility to move to the right and avoid a collision in a head on encounter.   

There were 'rules of the road violations for not maintaining a proper lookout and failure to alter course to starboard (WAC 352-60-070-(13)(a); Rule 14).  Neither operator was issued an infraction but the report noted that both were at fault for the collision.  State review of the incident differs and indicates that the level of operation would meet the definition for 'reckless operation' of a vessel as 'willful and wanton' operation under state statute RCW 79A.60.040(1). 

Both operators were wearing a PFD.   

Neither operator had completed a boater education course. 

There was no evidence of alcohol use.

Electric City                 