RedactedNarrative: On September 18, 2015 at approximately 1100 hrs I, OFC., was on boat patrol on the Magothy River when I was dispatched to a call for a person in the water in the area of Sillery Bay and Grays Creek.  I had an approximately 5 minute ETA.  Near the mouth of Grays Creek I observed a Tow Boat U.S. vessel next to a capsized small vessel.  By the time I was on scene, persons on board the vessel had been taken to shore at Atlantic Marina- Grays Creek.  Captain of Tow Boat U.S. was on scene and had a line attached to the capsized vessel.  He told me that there was structural damage to the vessel's hull on the starboard side.  It was suspected that the vessel struck the #2 navigational marker located at the mouth of Grays Creek.  The vessel was a Cobia Sunskiff 180 bearing registration MD 6028 AN.  Captain stayed with the vessel as I proceeded to go to Atlantic Marina to meet with the victims. 
  
  At Atlantic Marina I met with the good Samaritan, who rescued the persons from the water and brought them to Atlantic Marina.  Good Sam told me that he was outside at his waterfront house nearby and heard persons yelling in the water.  He then went out on his vessel and rescued three persons from the water.
  
  I then met with the vessel owner/operator and passenger.  Operator did not show any signs of intoxication nor did I smell an odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath or person.  Both Operator and Occupant told me that they had not been drinking alcohol prior to the accident.  Prior to my arrival, passenger Occupant2 was transported by MSP Aviation to U. of MD Shock Trauma for treatment of severe head injuries.
  
  I asked Operator about the events the occurred prior to the accident.  He told me that they launched the boat at the Magothy Beach community boat ramp and then went crabbing behind Gibson Island.  During their return to Magothy Beach the vessel, operated by Operator, struck the #2 navigational marker at the mouth of Grays Creek.  Operator told me that the navigational marker "appeared out of nowhere" prior to the collision.  He said he was very familiar with the waterway as he has been boating in the area for 30 years.  I asked Operator if he was distracted by a cell phone or by anything else prior to the collision and he told me "no".  Operator sustained no injury that required treatment.
  
  Occupant corroborated the events that Operator told me.  Occupant was transported to Baltimore Washington Medical Center for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries sustained to his head and torso.
  
  Off.  and I then went back out on the patrol boat to the scene of the accident. We took photos of the capsized vessel and of the #2 navigational marker (see attached).  The #2 navigational marker did not sustain any structural damage.  There was white fiberglass transfer onto the pole of the marker.  Captain of Tow Boat U.S. then towed the vessel to Atlantic Marina to be salvaged.  Captain provided a written statement that is attached to this report.
  
  My investigation concludes that the vessel struck the #2 navigational marker with the initial point of contact being the starboard bow of the vessel.  As the vessel continued forward, the marker rubbed down the starboard side causing severe fiberglass damage down the length of the vessel.  The punctures in the hull caused the vessel to flood and then capsize.  The coordinates of the #2 navigational marker are N 39 05.200'  W 076 27.636'.
   
  The primary causes of the accident were operator inattention and failure to maintain a proper lookout.
  
  All events occurred in Anne Arundel County, Maryland...
   