RedactedNarrative: Accident occurred on 2/23/15.  The uscg was called and present on scene after the vessel collided with bridge.  Ncwrc was not notified of the accident.  On 3/6/15 at 4:55pm, i called up petty officer of the uscg to ask about and discuss a sunken vessel near manns harbor.  Officer advised me that he had been investigating the case and provided some information including the name of the owner of the sunken vessel.
  
  On the evening of 3/6/15, i met operator2 at his residence and we discussed the accident.  Operator2 advised that on 2/22/15, he was in the process of selling his vessel, the nice n easy iii to operator1.  For purposes of this report, the nice n easy iii will be known as vessel 2.  Operator2 advised that on 2/22/15, at around 11:00am, operator1 began towing vessel 2 with another vessel, the christine, from colington harbor towards shallowbag bay.  For purposes of this report, the christine will be known as vessel 1.  
   
  Operator1 and operator2 planned to finalize the sale of vessel 2 upon arriving at shallowbag bay.  Operator2 stated the reason vessel 2 needed to be towed was because the batteries on vessel 2 were dead.  While operator1 was operating vessel 1, operator2 was on board vessel 2.  Operator2 reported he did make efforts to control vessel 2 while it was under tow.  He also reported while in route to shallowbag bay, operator1 was going off course and going in circles.  Operator2 reported he told operator1 to drop the anchor and they would continue towing the following morning.  Operator2 estimated this was around 10:00pm.  At that point, operator1 dropped the anchor from vessel 1.  Vessel 1 and vessel 2 spent the night rafted together side to side.
  
  Early the next morning, operator1 was preparing to continue towing vessel 2 with vessel 1when vessel 1 ran out of gas.  Operator2 reported by this point the wind had picked up to over 25 mph out of the northeast.  Operator2 reported that operator1 dropped his anchor again but the anchor line broke approximately 30 minutes later.  Operator2 reported that it was around this point that the wind caused the stern, back of vessel 1to collide with the bow, front of vessel 2.  Because of the wind, both vessels were drifting towards the manns harbor bridge.  Operator2 reported that while he was on vessel 2, it drifted into the bridge stern first and the port side of the stern collided with a piling underneath the bridge.  He reported that upon colliding with the piling, the swim platform was "torn off" and this caused vessel 2 to start taking on water.  Operator2 reported vessel 2 continued to drift south after the collision.  He reported operator1 had already called the coast guard by this point.  Operator2 reported when the coast guard arrived on scene approximately one hour later.  He boarded their vessel since his was taking on water.  Operator2 reported the coast guard attached an anchor to vessel 2 and anchored the vessel near manns harbor.  Over the next few days, vessel 2, took on water and sank.  As of now the vessel is resting on the bottom completely submerged and a total loss.  Operator2 reported tow boat us towed vessel 1 away from the scene.
  
  On 3/29/15 at approximately 4:00pm, i spoke with the person in possession of vessel 1.  He stated that operator1 owned vessel 1.  Owner stated that he was in possession of vessel 1 because he used to own it and operator1 still owed him money on it.  Owner pointed out the damage that occurred to vessel 1.  I observed the rubrail had been torn off around the bow and the lifeline, metal hand rail, on the starboard side was missing.  Owner also reported that one of the cow vents was damaged and was missing.
  
  On 4/9/15 at approximately 5:26pm, i spoke over the phone with operator1, the operator of vessel 1.  Operator1 was hospitalized due to an involuntary commitment shortly after this boating accident occurred and he was difficult to contact.  Operator1 did advise me of the events that led up to the boating accide