RedactedNarrative: On 7/4/17 at approximately 1818 hours EST, Vessel 1 (V1) was traveling in an easterly direction in St Joseph Bay, Gulf County FL.  V1 was a 24' Carolina Skiff and was about to enter the navigation channel that leads to the Gulf County Canal where the destination was the Highland View Boat Ramp.  V1 had its operator and four passengers on board and was on plane and operating at cruising speed.
  
  On the date and time above, Vessel 2 (V2) was being operated in an easterly direction in the same general area as V1.  V2 was an 11' Sea Doo personal watercraft (PWC) and was also heading to the same destination as V1.  V2 had it's operator and one passenger on board and was on full plane and being operated at or near full throttle.
  
  V2 approached V1 from the rear port side as if in an overtaking situation.  As V2 approached and went past V1, V2 either hit a wave or made an extreme maneuver to the left which ejected both the operator and passenger off of the vessel and into the path of V1.  T
  
  he passenger of V2 was struck by V1 (motor) and received severe propeller cuts to both of his front thighs (legs.)  The operator of V2 could not be found and his life jacket was recovered with damage to the inside.  
  
  There was no damage to the fasteners of the life jacket he was wearing and it is believed that it was not being worn properly (buckles not fastened.)  The passenger of V2 was taken aboard V1 and transported to the Highland View Boat Ramp where he received medical care and subsequently transported to Sacred Heart / Bay Medical Center in Panama City, FL.  The operator and passengers on V1 were not injured and it was determined that both vessels did not strike each other.  V2 did come to a stop after the lanyard / key fob was pulled which ceased the engine.  This lanyard / key fob was recovered two days later on 7/6/17 washed up on Mexico Beach, FL.  
  
  An ongoing search for the operator of V2 yielded in negative results or findings.