RedactedNarrative: Officer, of Maryland’s Natural Resources Police assigned to Area 1 in Worcester County Maryland, was dispatched to a property damage-only PWC accident in the area of Assawoman Bay in Ocean City Maryland on July 6, 2022. The vessels involved were rental PWCs from Island Watersports, 39084 Harpoon Rd Fenwick Island DE, 19944, and were able to safely return to port.
  
  Upon arrival at Island watersports, I met with the establishment’s manager. He had pulled both of the PWCs from the water and they were on a trailer. I took photographs of the vessels before heading to the office to meet with the operators.  
  
  Subject1 was the father of Operator1 and the guardian for Operator2 while they were operating the rental PWCs. Operator1 and Operator2 were operating when they struck one another nearly head-on. Operator1 was ejected from his ski but declined medical attention. He denies any loss of consciousness or head injury and states he remembers the entire incident. He had minor scrapes visible on his left elbow and knee.
  
  Operator1 states that he was operating rental PWC in a northerly direction in the assigned riding area for Island Watersports when he made a right turn and began to slow down. He was then struck off his starboard side by Operator2’s PWC and was ejected forward from the PWC. Operator1 states he had never operated a jetski before, he was traveling “10-15 mph”, and “I never saw him (Operator2) coming towards me.” Operator1’s PWC had severe damage to the hull on the starboard side. Large cracks in the fiberglass were noted below the waterline and the PWC was taking on water after the accident. It is estimated that the PWC was totaled/ unable to be repaired.
  
  Operator2 was operating rental PWC in a southerly direction in the assigned riding area for Island Watersports when he made a left turn and almost immediately struck Operator1’s PWC. Operator2 states that he had never operated a PWC before, he was traveling “12-15mph”, and “I turned left and didn’t see anyone then I hit Operator1, It all happened so fast.” Operator2’s PWC had significant damage to the rub rail and plastic on the bow of the ski as well as fiberglass damage to the bow below the water line. Estimated damages for this ski were around $1500.00.
  
  Subject1 is the father of Operator1 and was the sponsor or guardian for Operator2, as both are under the age of 18. Subject1 did not witness the accident but signed the release of liability/ rental agreement form on the boys' behalf.
  
  Both Operator1 and Operator2 were cited for Failure to Obey Navigation Rules of the Road: Rule 5- Failure to provide proper lookout (MR 08.18.01.04(A)). They verbalized understanding of their violations and the process for addressing the citations.
  
  Information and photographs were collected from all parties for an accident report.
  
  All events occurred in Worcester County Maryland.
  