RedactedNarrative: Maryland Natural Resources Police assigned to Area 1 in Wicomico County Maryland, was on patrol on September 07, 2021, when I made contact with Operator 1 via telephone to take a report, after the fact, of a boating accident that took place on the Wicomico River on September 05, 2021, around 3:00 PM.
  Around 3:00 PM on September 05, 2021, OPERATOR 1 and his family were traveling North on the Wicomico River in his 2002 Parker 2510 MVWA on their way to Brew River for dinner. OPERATOR 1 has approximately “10 years” of boating experience, has completed a state boater safety course, and has operated the 25 foot Parker for the past two years. The weather while underway was clear, approximately 82 degrees Fahrenheit, winds between 10-15mph out of the Southwest, seas with waves less than 1ft.  While traveling they came across a vessel. OPERATOR 1 states that when he was approximately 1 mile from the Salisbury Speed Zone start point, he attempted to overtake the vessel because it was “not moving very fast and maybe slowing down a bit. I went from about 24mph to about 28 or 29 mph because my boat doesn’t plane right unless I’m going pretty fast.”  While attempting to pass the vessel on the port side, “a wall of water came out of nowhere and caused my stern to be thrown to the right about 90 degrees and the bow to submerge.” OPERATOR 1 denies any visible change in course or speed from the stand-on vessel he was attempting to overtake. The other vessel’s wake and Vessel 1’s abrupt change in direction caused OPERATOR 1’s daughter to be thrown out of her seat and strike the seat in front of her. She sustained traumatic injuries to her face. OPERATOR 1 states that after recovering control of his vessel, he stopped to help tend to his daughter’s injuries while the other vessel continued on. After providing first aid, the OPERATOR 1’s continued toward their destination in Salisbury. Upon arriving to Brew River in Salisbury, she and her husband called for an Uber and she admitted herself to the Emergency Department at Tidal Health Peninsula Regional Medical Center.
  Victim states that she doesn’t remember much of the accident as it took place “really fast.”  She was sitting in a seat at the stern of the vessel on the starboard side when she felt the boat change direction, throwing her from her seat. She was evaluated at Tidal Health and diagnosed with a “right cheekbone fracture and broken nose” before being discharged later that evening.
  OPERATOR 1 describes the vessel he attempted to overtake as a “About a 40-foot vessel with a tower for fishing. It was operated by an older white man probably around 60 years old and there were about 10 people on board the boat. The guy was driving from the tower up top.” After taking the initial report from OPERATOR 1 on September 7, 2021, I conducted a search in LTD for vessels bearing the name. I came across a 39 foot Rinker that matches the description of the stand-on vessel provided by OPERATOR 1. On September 07, 2021, I reached out to owner via telephone and left a voicemail.  On September 8, 2021, I made contact with owner who states that he was not underway on September 05, 2021 and that he only operates his vessel in the Annapolis area of Maryland. At this time, there are no other suspect vessels that match the description provided by OPERATOR 1.
  
  
  