RedactedNarrative: On 7/6/19 I, FWC Officer, noticed an abandoned vessel in the marsh adjacent to the Amelia River in Nassau Co.  The time was 10:17 hours.  Two vessels from Nassau Co Sheriff's Office arrived on scene and said they had received a call about the vessel.  After a further look at the vessel it was determined that the vessel had been involved in a crash.  The steering wheel had been pushed through the console.  The vessel had struck the shell bed bank and launched itself in the air about 20 to 25 feet before it landed and continued another 25 to 35 feet into the marsh before coming to a stop.  Nassau SO contacted the registered owner who said his friend had borrowed the vessel the previous day.  
  
  Operator1 arrived on scene to remove the vessel.  He was accompanied by several people to include Occupant1 who had been aboard the vessel when it crashed.  Operator1 was read Miranda and interviewed.  Operator1 said that his party had been at the Downunder restaurant which is located on the Amelia River.  They left the restaurant at approximately 21:00 hours. Sunset was at 20:32 hours and Operator1 said he had expressed concern about operating the vessel at night.   Operator1 was the operator along with his son Occupant2, Occupant3, and Occupant1 as passengers.  Occupant2 stood to the right of Operator1.  Occupant1 and Occupant3 were sitting on a cooler in front of the steering console.  The vessel continued north bound on the Amelia River. 
  
  It appears that Operator1 steered the vessel to his left past unlit green marker 1B.  Operator1 said he realized that he needed to steer back to his right as he noticed unlit red marker 18A to his right.  He said he did not think the vessel was responding to his turning the steering wheel to the right.  Nassau CO Deputies had inspected the vessel's steering after the crash and the vessel had steering.  The vessel struck the shell bed on the west bank of the Amelia River.  The vessel was launched approximately 20 -25' over the shell bed.  The vessel landed and continued into the marsh where it came to a stop.  
  
  Operator1 had struck the steering wheel on impact.  Subject2 was thrown forward.  Occupant1 was thrown from the cooler.  Nobody was ejected.  A vessel was following and picked up everyone.  Occupant2 complained of pain.  He was taken to shore and his mother transported him to Baptist Hospital in Fernandina.  He was admitted at 22:26 and discharged at 01:50 hours with contusions to his lower back.  None of the rest of the party sought treatment.  Occupant1 did complain of soreness the following day.  Operator said he was too distraught when asked why he had not notified law enforcement of the crash or fire rescue for his injured son.  Operator1 was issued citations for failure to report a vessel crash and violation of a navigation rule resulting in a vessel crash.  He was issued written warnings for improper display of registration decal and no type 4 throwable. 
  