RedactedNarrative: On October 11, 2019 at approximately 1930 hrs, I, Corporal, and Officer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police heard the tugboat "Lynne Moran" hail the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on Marine VHF Channel 16 to report that a vessel had collided into them on the Patapsco River. I relayed this information to DNR Dispatch and we responded to the Patapsco River by patrol boat. Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer responded by patrol vessel from Anne Arundel County and arrived on scene prior to us. Officer made the recovery of two subjects who fell from the striking vessel and had climbed onto Brewerton Shipping Channel green buoy #15. This buoy is in the Patapsco River within Anne Arundel County . Officer narrative detailing his involvement is included in this report. On scene, I observed a center console recreational vessel adrift with severe crushing damage done to its bow. There were no occupants on board at the time. It displayed Maryland registration MD 5039 CG. Shortly after I first observed the vessel, it rolled over and capsized, then floated with the bottom of the hull facing upwards.
  
  It was determined that the only occupants that were on this recreational vessel were the two subjects Officer retrieved from Buoy #15. Operator1 told me they were following another vessel from Sparrows Point to Stoney Creek and they collided with Brewerton Shipping Channel buoy #15. Both Operator1 and V1 occupant were thrown overboard and the vessel continued traveling unmanned and collided with the tugboat "Lynne Moran". I asked Operator1 if the buoy #15 that he and V1 occupant were found on was the same buoy that the vessel struck, he responded "yes". Both Operator1 and V1 occupant sustained no injuries from the accident and they refused medical treatment from EMS.
  
  Operator1 contacted Tow Boat U.S.. to salvage his vessel.
  
  My investigation concludes that operator inattention, improper lookout, and excessive speed are the contributing factors in this reportable boat accident. Operator1's vessel suffered disabling damage and based on my knowledge and experience I believe the vessel to be a total loss. A damage cost amount is unknown at the time of this report. There were no personal injuries. 
  
  I was told that Operator1's vessel struck the port side bow of the "Lynne Moran" and caused no damage to the tugboat. There were only superficial marks left on the tugboat's steel hull made by the fiberglass hull of the striking vessel (See attached photos).
  
  Subject witnessed both boats alter course to the West closely outside of the channel. Witness saw the lead boat take a diagonal course and pass behind the "Lynne Moran", followed by the second boat. Both boats were described as "traveling at a high rate of speed". After passing behind the "Lynne Moran", the lead boat made a "wide right turn and struck us on the port bow". Captain Witness then hailed USCG on marine VHF channel 16 and proceeded to search for victims. He said the damaged pleasure boat's motor was still running after the collision and was making clockwise turns. After Captain Witness and crew searched the impact area, they came alongside the boat and a crew member was able to shut-off the boat's outboard motor. They noticed that the boat was unmanned, no one was onboard. The second pleasure boat told Captain Witness and crew that 2 occupants were onboard that striking boat and that the boat had just hit a buoy before striking the "Lynne Moran". Captain Witness and crew searched the impact area first and then went across the Brewerton Channel to search the eastern buoys. They found the 2 occupants on Buoy #15 and then notified a Fire Department Boat that they had located them. They stood by until the persons were retrieved off of the buoy by NRP Officer.
  