RedactedNarrative: On Saturday August 19, 2017 at approximately 9:40pm myself (Cpl.) of the Maryland Natural Resources Police and Ofc. were notified through dispatch of a vessel sinking with 2 persons on board in the Potomac River near buoy 19.
  
  Both units traveled via code response to Goose Bay Marina Duty station in Charles County to assist additional rescue efforts already underway. While en route, we were notified that the vessel was completely sunk and that both persons were in the water and wearing life jackets.  Upon arrival at Goose Bay, we were met by multiple people at the dock informing us that all rescue efforts were complete and subjects were transported to the hospital for observation.
  
  Ofc. and I traveled to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg Virginia to interview the owner and operator of the vessel and his wife, the other occupant in the boat. Wife sustained bruises and injuries that required medical evaluation, Operator declined medical care.  I asked Operator the events of the evening and the following is the description of the events that evening:
  
  Both individuals had been boating most of the whole day with a few other boat friends and were traveling back from Fitzies Marina in Breton Bay, St. Mary's County Maryland.  Wife wearing her life jacket, Operator was not.  Operator was the operator of the vessel, a 1990 31' Wellcraft Scarab (VA 1572 BE), at approximately 40 knots (his estimation) en route back to Rick's Marina in King George Virginia, following GPS tracks he had laid out previously.  Through a brief distraction or looking away, their vessel approached the rock pile and Spider Buoy in the middle of the Potomac River nearing buoy 19 heading up river.  
  
  In an effort to avoid direct impact with the rocks, the operator turned the vessel hard to port while the stern of the vessel impacted the rocks.  Operator was ejected, while Wife was thrown about the interior of the vessel.  The boat continued a short distance until Wife could reach the controls to shut down the engines, and then Operator was able to swim to the boat while it drifted towards him.  
  
  Upon entering the boat he put on his life jacket, his wife found her cell phone and called 911.  Operator tried to start the boat, one engine wouldn't start.  With the one engine that was able to run, he tried to make way to shore but the vessel was taking on too much water and choked out the other engine and the boat quickly sank.  Wife held her arm up out of the water with cell phone in hand to communicate with 911 dispatch their location in proximity to search helicopters and vessels in the area and were located.  Both individuals were rescued from the water and trasported to shore in Virginia. 
  
  Wife sustained significant bruises to her arms and legs and received treatment at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg Virginia.  While questioning Operator, he admitted to consuming a few beers during the day prior to the accident.  Also he stated that normally Wife does not wear her life jacket, but for some reason on that excursion she felt things weren’t quite right and decided to put her’s on.
  
  Conditions that night were clear, waters were mostly calm.  Operator claimed to be an active and frequent boat operator, and had been most of his life.
  
  The vessel was located in about 20 feet of water and was towed via Boat US to about 4 feet of water near Virginia at coordinates N38d20.497 by W78d10.731.  Vessel owner has stated he will comply with removing the now hazard to navigation.
  
  Charges have yet to be determined.  Nothing further to report.
  
  All events happened in Charles County Maryland and Fredericksburg Virginia.
  