RedactedNarrative: On July 20, 2020, at approximately 1851 hours, a single vessel boating incident occurred in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) near the Jensen Beach Causeway, in Martin County, FL.  The vessel, a 1975, 19’ AMF Robalo, referred to as “Vessel 1 or V-1”, had three occupants on board.  
  
  V-1 was traveling from Offshore the St. Lucie Inlet toward the southwest boat ramp of the Jensen Beach Causeway. Vessel 1 was just south of the Jensen Beach Causeway’s southwest boat ramp, on plane, when it suddenly turned to the starboard side abruptly and ejected two of the three occupants on board.  
  
  Vessel 1 went into a clockwise like circle and the propeller struck the operator while he was in the water.  The occupant on board who was not ejected was able to gain control of the vessel as it was maneuvering in a clockwise like circle and put the vessel in neutral.  
  
  The occupant who was ejected was uninjured and swam to the vessel.  The two occupants on board the vessel retrieved the operator from the water and onto the vessel.  The occupants transported the operator / victim to the Jensen Beach Causeway southwest boat ramp.  The operator / victim was transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center where he was treated for injuries.  On August 9th, 2020, I was notified by Lawnwood Regional Medical Center Trauma Staff that the operator / victim was pronounced deceased. 
  
  Investigation findings-steering connecting rod to the outboard motor had disconnected during operation,  allowing the motor to torque steer.
  
  When V-1’s steering link arm disconnected from the steering cable, V-1’s 150 horsepower Yamaha outboard engine abruptly canted to the starboard side of the vessel causing V-1 to turn immediately clockwise in a 360-degree rotation.  The operator was immediately ejected from V-1 and was struck by V-1’s propeller in the upper left leg, left torso, and right shin.  Victim was air lifted to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and was treated for his injuries for 12 days.  On Sunday, August 9th, 2020 at 2200 hours, Victim was pronounced deceased by Dr. at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.    
  