RedactedNarrative: On 08/24/2019 at 1911 hours, I, Cpl. with the Maryland Natural Resources Police, was on marine patrol of Deep Creek Lake and made aware of a boat accident involving two personal watercraft (PWC). The vessel accident occurred on the main body of Deep Creek Lake south of the Glendale bridge, adjacent to the Holy Cross development. The two vessels involved were part of a group of seven PWCs rented from the Aquatic Center. Officer and I activated our emergency equipment and were quickly on scene of the accident. At our arrival, both operators from the two involved PWCs were uninjured. The striking vessel was still operational at that time. The victim PWC was partially submerged in the lake, with a gaping hole in the starboard side of the vessel and un-operational. Officer secured the sinking PWC to his vessel with a line while DNR Communications contacted the Aquatic Center for their assistance to retrieve their vessel and remove it from the lake. I escorted the remaining six PWCs back to the Aquatic Center where they could be evaluated and information gathered.
  
       After the group arrived at the Aquatic Center and returned the remaining PWCs, I had them all take another self-examination for any injuries since the adrenaline of the accident had begun to wear off. All parties involved insisted they were unharmed and refused any medical evaluation. Only one additional rider in the rental group witnessed the accident, as she was talking to Operator2 at the time it occurred. 
  
  Operator1, Operator2 and Witness sat at a nearby picnic table and described the accident to me. Operator2 advised her PWC was slowly circling to the left as she was twisted facing backwards to talk to Witness on her nearby PWC. 
  
  Operator2 heard a loud noise and turned forward again on her PWC to see Operator1 bearing down on the starboard side of her PWC at a high rate of speed. Operator2 advised she froze and didn't have enough time to move out of the way and Operator1 advised that he panicked and released the throttle several boat lengths away but the PWC continued to travel in the same direction at a significant speed. 
  
  Operator1 hit the forward starboard side hull of Operator2's PWC and immediately put a hole in the hole approximately 18 inches in diameter. Operator2 was thrown from her PWC but uninjured. Operator1 sustained significant damage to the bow of his PWC along with a significant crack in the hull from bow to stern, also thrown from his PWC by the impact. 
  
  Operator2's PWC immediately began taking on water, bobbing with it's stern in the air at my arrival. Operator1 advised he was going much faster than six knots within 100 feet of Operator2's vessel and that he was inexperienced with operating a PWC, as this was his first ride. Operator2 advised she was also inexperienced with operating a PWC and had less than 10 hours operating experience.
  
       Operator2's PWC was towed by the Aquatic Center staff to the Deep Creek Lake State Park boat ramp where it was later removed by the company. Operator1's vessel was escorted by the officer back to the Aquatic Center where it was trailered from the lake for further inspection of damages. Once Operator1's vessel was removed from the lake, you could see the extent of the hull damage below the waterline from the stress cracks. Both PWCs were declared totaled by the Aquatic Center with replacement costs totaling $11298.00. Witness ultimately purchased the PWC bearing MD registration MD 1891 LB from the Aquatic Center.
  
      Operator1 was charged with Operating a PWC > 6knots within 100' of a vessel (MR 08.18.02.05L)
  
      All events occurred in Garrett County, Maryland.
  