RedactedNarrative: On August 8th, 2020, at approximately 1720 hours, I, Officer of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) while on water patrol near the West Turning Basin, responded to a call from dispatch in reference to a boating accident between a personal watercraft and another vessel near the Broad Causeway.  We immediately responded to the scene.
  
  It was determined  that the striking vessel, a Yamaha jet boat (FL 3435 RR) struck a personal watercraft (FL 6222 SM) from behind with three occupants onboard, ejecting all three occupants, and leaving one occupant with a head injury that required hospital treatment. 
  
  The operator of the striking vessel was cited for careless operation of a vessel. 
  
  The total damage as a result of the accident is estimated to be over $2,000. 
  
  The weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear skies, good visibility, moderate winds, and choppy waves (6" to 2').  When we arrived on scene in the Meloy Channel just south of the Broad Causeway, Fire Boat 21 and an Indian Creek Police patrol vessel were already on scene speaking with the occupants of the personal watercraft (PWC). 
  
  We were advised that there were three passengers onboard the PWC (FL 6222 SM) when they were struck from behind by the bow of a Yamaha jet boat (FL 3435 RR) and all three passengers were ejected into the water. 
  
  V2 occupant1, who was seated in the rear of the PWC was struck in the back of the head by the bow of the striking vessel and sustained a laceration to the head. V2 occupant1 was treated on scene by EMS and was not transported to a hospital. V2 occupant2, who was seated in the middle in the middle of the PWC, sustained a bump on her head from the collision and was not transported to a hospital. The father informed me on August 25th that operator2 was later transported to Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital and received staples in her head for a laceration sustained during the collision. 
  
  After speaking with the occupants of the PWC we spoke with the operator of the striking vessel, who stated that the personal watercraft "showed up out of nowhere" and he struck the personal watercraft from behind. He stated that he put his vessel in reverse right before he struck the PWC in an attempt to avoid collision.
  