RedactedNarrative: At 2200 on 8/1/15, subject was operating an 18' thundercraft on the james river in prince george county. Operator1 had left the gravel pit further up river, and was cruising beside his father's boat on their way down river to jordan point marina. Operator1 stated that the night was clear and well lit by the full moon as he cruised at 25mph. The boat was cruising toward the ben harrison bridge when operator1 noticed channel marker 107 immediately in front of him. He turned the boat hard to port, preventing a head on collision. The starboard chine of the boat contacted the steel brace of the marker, even with the driver's seat. 
  
  The resulting force pushed the floor of the boat up, breaking the feet of both starboard occupants. The hull of the boat experienced structural failure, causing the boat to sink in an estimated 45 seconds. Operator1's father circled his boat around, pulled up on the sinking boat, and pulled the occupants onto his boat. They then went ashore at jordan point, and subjects were taken to john randolph hospital.