RedactedNarrative: On 06/12/2016 at approximately 16:00 hrs. I, Cpl., was dispatched to the Potomac River in the area of Gilligan's Pier, located in Newburg, Charles County, Maryland, for a reported single vessel watercraft accident. Information was received that a single vessel had sunk and that there were 4 POBs, all of whom were not injured. 
  
  The 4 POBs were taken to shore at Gilligan's Pier (Restaurant/Bar) and were awaiting a response by NRP. Due to my location from the scene and an extended ETA, I requested Sgt. be asked to respond to the scene by DNR communications upon Sgt. coming on duty at any minute. Sgt. arrived on scene at Gilligan's Pier and made contact with the operator/occupants while I was enroute. 
  
  I immediately went to the Aqualand duty station for NRP where I took a patrol vessel out in search for the victim vessel. The victim vessel was eventually located upriver towards the Maryland shoreline from Gilligan's. The vessel's stern was sunk in the river with about 6 feet of her bow protruding above the water's surface. The vessel was located in approximately 9.5 feet of water. The water/weather conditions that day were hazardous with a strong wind and choppy waters with 2'+ waves. 
  
  I then responded over to Gilligan's where contact was made with Sgt. and the operator/occupants of the victim vessel. Sgt. gave this officer a brief briefing on what was gather from the vessel's occupants. The operator advised that he and his passengers had left Gilligan's Pier prior to the incident and were heading upriver along the Maryland shoreline. 
  
  When Operator attempted to throttle his vessel up onto plane, as the stern was low, water from the excessive waves had entered into the vessel and caused the engine to stop. The vessel, which had limited freeboard due to its type, had begun taking on more water and had eventually begun to sink to its ultimate demise. 
  
  Both the operator and his occupants were observed to be drinking alcohol upon Sgt. interaction with them so it could not be determined if alcohol was a factor in the incident prior to. Operator had attempted contact with a salvage company in an effort to raise his vessel from the surface. Operator indicated that he had just purchased the vessel 5 days prior from a private party, to which whom the vessel was still registered to. 
  
  Operator also indicated that the vessel had all of the required safety equipment on-board, and more specifically, that PFDs for everyone on board were present but not in use. This could not be confirmed by this officer due to the vessel being partially sunk.
  