RedactedNarrative: On Friday May 27, 2016 around 9:00 a.m. I, OFC. was at the Port of Salisbury when I noticed a vessel be launched at the Riverside boat ramp on the Wicomico River. The Boat ramp is directly across from the Port of Salisbury. I watched as two adults and two children launched a vessel into the Wicomico River. 
  
  
  Once the vessel was launched I saw the vessel just off the docks north of the ramp. I then heard the engine, a loud crash and the children scream. As I looked back towards the vessel it was tilted on a boat lift and leaning toward its port side. I then saw the operator free the vessel from the boat lift and start making his way back to the boat ramp located about one hundred feet from the dock. 
  
  I then drove over to the boat ramp to check on the situation. Once on scene I made contact with the vessel operator's wife. She informed me that her husband had just hit the boat lift pilings and was coming back to load his boat up. I helped Wife get the boat trailer into the water and helped load the vessel onto its trailer. 
  
  Once on land I made contact with the vessel owner/operator. After looking at the boat I noticed the extent of the damage was located on the ski mount system for towing water skiers or tubes (see attached photos). I asked Operator what happened and he replied " I was trying to enter the slip and the throttle got stuck". I asked Operator what was the amount of experience he had operating boats. He replied " this was his first boat he just purchased a couple days ago, and he had rented a couple boats back home in Pennsylvania". I asked Operator if everybody was ok or if they needed any medical attention, He advised "everybody is ok just a little shook up".  The vessel registration is PA 4443 DN on a 19 foot Stingray open bow inboard/outboard vessel. 
  
              No Citations were issued as I cannot prove whether it was operator error or faulty throttle equipment. 
  
     All events occurred in Wicomico County Maryland.
  