RedactedNarrative: On 3/9//19 at approximately 2030 hrs on the New River at 717 North Rio Vista Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33301 the Lady Elizabeth Vessel a 44' Huckins (V2) was struck and sunk by the Rendezvous a 41' Tiara (V1) vessel.
  
  According to Operator1 who was operating the Rendezvous vessel (V1) at the time of the accident/crash. Operator1 stated he was heading west on the New River when he encountered the vessel Musette (V3), a 94 foot passenger tour vessel heading east toward the Intercostal Waterway.  This bow to bow opposite direction passing situation would normally be a port ( left vessel side) to port passing of vessels in that area of the river.  The river in this area is constrained and approx. 80-100 feet wide and could be too narrow for two vessels to pass port to port.  The vessel Musette (V3) would have had the right of way given the vessels 94 foot size and inability to navigate out of the middle or deepest area of the river.  The Musette vessel size would dictate the vessel was restricted in the ability to maneuver and would need to be given the right of way by the Rendezvous (V1).  The Captain of the Musette knowing he needed priority navigation in this area of the river sounded his horn to indicate he needed all vessels to stay clear until the Musette could traverse this narrow area of the New River. The Lady Elizabeth (V2) was docked and tied to the dock at the residence.
  
  Operator1 stated that he did not see an area where he was able to pass or move his vessel the Rendezvous (V1) out of the path of the Musette and tried to turn his vessel Rendezvous around in the middle of the river.  Operator1 stated that once at a 90 degree angle and broadside to the Musette (V3) that the wind and the river current made it difficult for him to control his vessel.  Operator1 stated that he believed the Musette vessel would run into him, so he threw his vessel into reverse and backed into the Lady Elizabeth the first time. This action of bouncing off of the Lady Elizabeth forced the Rendezvous back towards the Musette.  Fearing he was going to strike the Musette, Operator1 sent his two passengers (unknown names) to the bow of his vessel to push off of the Musette vessel which was now stopped and using reverse to stay clear of the Rendezvous.  Operator1 again put his vessel into reverse hard and struck the port side of the Lady Elizabeth a second time very hard causing enough damage that the vessel took on water and sunk while tied to the dock.  
  
  Operator1 when asked was unsure he had struck the vessel a second time.  Operator1 stated he thought he only scratched the Lady Elizabeth as his vessel did not appear to be damaged.  Operator1 Tiara vessel is constructed with a full swim platform off the stern or rear of the vessel.  This part of the vessel is very strong and with the force of the impact observed on smart phone camera footage from a passenger on the Musette, Operator1 should have realized there would be considerable damage to the Lady Elizabeth that he struck.  In either case, Florida Law provides that a report to law enforcement and the vessel owner be completed at the time of the accident/crash with property damage.  Operator1 stopped once about fifty feet west of the accident scene to check his vessel and then proceeded home about two miles west up the river.  Operator1 stated that he told some passerby citizens that had gathered at the scene that he would be back to notify the owner but this does not fulfill his responsibility after the crash to notify the owner and law enforcement.
  
  While I was gathering information from the co-owners of Lady Elizabeth at the scene of the crash, Fort Lauderdale Marine Police Officer proceeded west up the New River to try to locate the striking vessel Rendezvous with negative results.  
  