RedactedNarrative: On September 4, 2017 at about 1630 hours, I, Cpl., of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, was contacted by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Communications, in reference to responding to the Sassafras for the report of a boat accident. DNR advised that a vessel was damaged by a large wake thrown by a passing vessel. 
  
  I subsequently made contact with Operator2, herein referred to as Operator2, about this incident. Operator2 advised that his vessel, a 2005 Luhrs sport-fishing vessel, was anchored and tied to another vessel inside of the Sassafras River 6 knot maximum speed zone, when a large wake caused the two boats to crash against one another. Operator2 advised that the violent wave action caused heavy cracking near the inside of his transom, where his vessel was tied off to the neighboring vessel. Operator2 advised that he was able to obtain the offending vessel's owner information. I told him that I would meet him at his boat in the Sassafras River to take the report. 
  
       I arrived to Operator2's location (GPS Coordinates 39° 21.743'N / 75° 54.605'W) in the Sassafras River at about 1725 hours. He was anchored about 200 yards into the Sassafras River 6 knot maximum speed zone on the Kent County, MD side of the river. Operator2's vessel was located about 57 yards from the Kent County shoreline. Operator2's vessel would later be fully identified as a 2005 34' Luhrs sport-fishing with Delaware vessel registration number "6857AK". Operator2 advised that he renamed the vessel "Reel Thing" with a hailing port of "Newark, DE" and is in the process of documenting the vessel with the USCG.  I asked Operator2 what happened. He advised that at about 4:10 PM, he was on his boat along with three other people. Operator2 advised that his vessel was tied to his son's vessel, a Silverton cabin cruiser. the Luhrs' port side was tied to the starboard side of his son's Silverton vessel. Both vessels were anchored from the bow, with the bows facing north. Operator2 advised that the vessels had 4 10"x26" boat bumpers set between the vessels near the bow, midship, and stern. 
  
       Operator2 advised that just before 4:10 PM, Operator2’s son alerted him to a large wake coming towards them, as it was thrown from a passing Sea Ray vessel that was traveling eastbound in the Sassafras River 6 knot maximum speed zone. Operator2 and Operator2’s son advised that vessel was traveling just north of the middle of the river as it transited. Operator2’s son advised that he was standing on the back platform of his Silverton when he initially saw the Sea Ray. Operator2 and Operator2’s son both advised that the Sea Ray was throwing a 3' tall wake. Operator2’s son advised that it looked like the vessel was traveling at about 10 to 12 knots. Operator2 advised that the vessel was pushing a large amount of water as it traveled, as it was not up on plane. Operator2 advised that the Sea Ray did not slow down and continued to throw the large wake until it was about 500 yards into the speed zone. Operator2 used a dock across the river as a reference point as to where the Sea Ray started to travel slower. Operator2 advised that at the time the Sea Ray threw the large wake it was the only vessel in the area and the only vessel that was traveling east bound in the speed zone. Operator2 honked his Luhrs' horn to try to get the Sea Ray's attention, but it went unnoticed.
  
       Operator2 and Operator2’s son advised that it took about 1.5 minutes for the wake to reach them from the time they first saw the large wake. Operator2 advised that the vessels rode the large 3' wake as it passed by them. The boats violently crashed into each other. Operator2 advised that after the wake passed, he noticed that the stern line that was securing the vessels together, burned the gel coat from the stress on the line. He saw that the top and inside of gunnel at the transom door was cracked. He located a series of cracks in the gel coat that ran down the inside of the transom to the Luhrs' floor. There were also numerous stress cracks in the gel coat that ran along the floor and ended near a floor cooler hatch. Operator2 estimated the damage to be valued at about $7,000.
  
       Operator2 showed me the cracks and advised that the cracks in the gel coat were not there before the Luhrs rode over the wake. I examined the cracks and took pictures of the damage. I located an approximate 3" crack in the top of the gunnel's gel coat, another approximate 4" crack in the top of the gunnel's gel coat and then an approximate 6" crack that ran from the top of the gunnel's gel coat and down the inside of the transom's gunnel. I also located numerous stress cracks that ran along the floor near the transom that ended at the floor cooler hatch. 
  
      Operator2 advised that he quickly untied his vessel and began to pursue the Sea Ray that threw the large wake. Operator2 and Operator2’s son never lost sight of the Sea Ray after they initially saw it throw the large wake. Operator2 advised that he obeyed the 6 knot speed limit while following the Sea Ray. He advised that he followed the Sea Ray all the way to the Sassafras Harbor Marina, where the Sea Ray docked at slip D-30. Operator2 advised that he made contact with the vessel's operator and notified him of the damage that the large wake caused. 
  
  Operator2 advised that Operator1 provided him with his and his boat's information. Operator2 provided this information to me as follows: Vessel: MD 1674 BY, 2000 Sea Ray 340 Sun Dancer named "STRAY CURRENT II". Operator2 advised that Operator1 was very apologetic and said that he knew what he did. Operator1 said, "I knew I was going too fast and making a big wake." Operator2 advised that they terminated contact on good terms.
  
      I provided Operator2 with his NRP report number and told him to call me with the value of damage once he gets an estimate for the repairs. I thanked him and cleared from the scene at about 1850 hours.
  
      I traveled over to the Sassafras Harbor Marina with the intentions of speaking with Operator1. I called Operator1's phone number and spoke to him as I traveled in the Sassafras River. Operator1 advised that he was not at his boat, that was docked at the Sassafras Harbor Marina, but he was at his residence. Being the distance was too great to travel, I opted to interview him over the phone about the incident. Operator1 provided me with his information and advised that he was in fact involved in an incident on the Sassafras River. Operator1 advised that he was operating his Sea Ray vessel east bound in the Sassafras River when he realized that he was gaining on numerous vessels. 
  
  Operator1 advised that his wife was on his vessel at the time. Operator1 advised that he realized that he missed the 6 knot maximum speed buoys and was exceeding the speed limit. He advised that he was traveling at about 12 MPH as he was about 400 to 500 yards into the speed zone. I asked Operator1 about his vessel and what speed it gets on plane. Operator1 advised that his Sea Ray gets on plane at about 21 MPH. Operator1 guessed that his vessel threw a 2' wake at 12 MPH. Operator1 advised that there were other vessels transiting the area at that time, as that is how he realized he was traveling too fast. He advised that the water was very choppy in the speed zone. Operator1 provided me with his vessel's information and advised that he was fairly new to boating. I thanked Operator1 for his cooperation and told him that he could contact Operator2 about the repairs if he wanted to. 
  
       This case is open pending notification of the vessel damage value. All events occurred in Kent County and Cecil County, MD.