RedactedNarrative: On June 10, 2019  I, Officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was on patrol at Christianson’s Landing boat ramp in Grant-Valkaria, Fl. At approximately 12:35pm I was approached by a boater, who was returning to the boat ramp, who stated that a large black and white cabin vessel had just ran over a channel marker outside the boat ramp. 
  
  He mentioned that the channel marker was located in the channel of the Indian River Intracoastal waterway (ICW). The boater then stated that he observed the vessel attempting to lower its anchor and he was unsure of the damage to the vessel. At this time, I made my way down the boat ramp to get a better view of the vessel and the channel marker. MY initial observations of the vessel were that it was not on anchor but was now maintaining course in the channel and heading north in the Indian River ICW. 
  The state of Florida defines a boating accident as the following:
  
  
  A collision, accident, or casualty involving a vessel in or upon, or entering into or exiting from, the water, including capsizing, collision with another vessel or object, sinking, personal injury, death or disappearance of any person from on board under circumstances which indicate the possibility of death or injury, or property damage to any vessel or dock.
  	Furthermore, the Coast Guard states that federal law requires the boat operator to submit a casualty or accident report to the State reporting authority when as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment. If the operator is unable to submit the report then the owner must submit the report.
  	During this time, I notified dispatch of the circumstances of the boating accident and told them it appeared the vessel was leaving the scene of the accident and was failing to report it. I then returned to my patrol vehicle and began heading north on state road US1 tracking the vessel. While I was attempting to make contact with the vessel through VHF marine radio I was contacted by Investigator (FWC) who asked me if I needed a patrol vessel to make contact with the vessel involved in the accident. I told him that the vessel’s captain was not responding to VHF radio and that I would need a patrol vessel. Inv. told me that he would pick one up and meet me at Front Street boat ramp located by the SR192 causeway. At approximately 1:15pm, I arrived at Front Street boat ramp where I was accompanied by Inv. and Officer (FWC). We then launched our patrol vessel and headed south to intercept the vessel who was involved in the boating accident. At 1:40pm I observed the black and white cabin vessel still heading north in the Indian River ICW. A vessel stop was made in the Indian River ICW across from Turkey Creek in Palm Bay, Fl. The distance from the scene of the accident and the location of the vessel stop is approximately 8.2 miles and approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes had elapsed. 
  
  Upon making contact with the vessel I observed that I was being operated by an elderly male and also occupied by an elderly female. I asked the captain/operator if he knew why we were stopping him today and the captain stated that he did not. I then asked the captain if he ran over a channel marker and he stated that he did. I then asked the captain for his driver’s license and vessel documentation.
  
  The vessel was identified through its Coast Guard and Florida vessel documentation as a:
  2003 Black and White 34’ cabin vessel, manufactured by TOMCO, with hull identification number TQG34048D303. The vessel’s documented name is Wabi Sabi. 
  
  	After identifying the captain and vessel I asked operator where on the vessel he struck the channel marker and he stated, “Right on the bow”.  I then asked him if he had a working VHF marine radio onboard or working cellular phones. 
  