RedactedNarrative: On 07/08/2020 at approximately 1430 hours I heard a distress call on VHF radio channel 16 for a vessel accident involving a PWC in the Sinepuxent Bay. I made contact with the subject over the VHF radio to obtain a more exact location and if there were any injuries. The subject, who was later identified as OPERATOR 2 stated they were in front of the duck hunting blind near Frontier Town and no one on his vessel was injured but the subject on the PWC might be injured. We responded to the vessel accident on NRP vessel 154.
  Upon arrival, I made contact with the subject on the PWC, who was identified as OPERATOR 1. OPERATOR 1 was on a red and black PWC that was owned by a rental company. I observed heavy structural and fiberglass damage on the bow of the PWC. I asked OPERATOR 1 if he was injured and needed medical attention. OPERATOR 1 stated his left arm hurt him a little but he didn't need medical attention. I asked OPERATOR 1 if he was sure and he stated he was fine. I told OPERATOR 1 I had to go check on the other boat involved and I needed him to stand by until I was finished with them. Sergeant operated our vessel to the other vessel involved. That vessel was identified as a 2018 Sportsman center console with 8 souls on board. The vessel was displaying Delaware registration "DL9745AJ." The registration displayed was later found out to be the old registration to the vessel. The new owner was waiting on his new registration numbers from Delaware. I made contact with OPERATOR 2 and asked him and the other occupants on his vessel if they needed medical attention. OPERATOR 2 and the other occupants all stated they were fine and didn't need medical attention. I asked OPERATOR 2 how the accident occurred and he stated he was taking his friends and family out for a cruise down the Sinepuxent Bay. OPERATOR 2 stated he turned the vessel around and started headed North towards Ocean City when a vessel was approaching them on their starboard side. OPERATOR 2 stated the PWC was also approaching them on their starboard side. OPERATOR 2 said when the vessel passed them, the PWC that OPERATOR 1 was operating was following behind it and got caught in its wake. OPERATOR 2 said once the PWC got caught in the other vessels' wake is when it looked like OPERATOR 1 lost control of the vessel and ran into the starboard side of his vessel. OPERATOR 2 stated he was traveling approximately 7 knots and he wasn't sure how fast the PWC was traveling. I observed the damage on OPERATOR 2's vessel and it appeared to be a gash in the fiberglass approximately a foot to a foot and a half in length and 2 inches in height. An officer took photographs of the damage to the vessel. The damage was above the waterline and the vessel wasn't taking on water. I collected all of the information needed from OPERATOR 2, provided him with the NRP case number, and advised him to contact me if he needed anything. I requested OPERATOR 2 to provide me with an estimate to repair the damages to his vessel soon. OPERATOR 2 cleared from the accident scene and returned to port. Sergeant operated our vessel to OPERATOR 1 and the rental guide from the rental company. I made contact with OPERATOR 1 again and he asked if he could come on board our vessel to take him back into port. I assisted him onto our vessel and had him sit in the bow. An Officer took photographs of the PWC before releasing it to the PWC guide. The guide took possession of the damaged PWC and towed it back to the rental company. While taking OPERATOR 1 back to the rental company, he provided his statement about the incident. OPERATOR 1 stated he had very little experience operating PWCs. OPERATOR 1 stated he was trying to keep up with the other PWC rentals when he was approaching a vessel's stern and the vessel that he struck was on his right side. OPERATOR 1 stated he was behind the vessel and hit one of its waves causing him to lose control and ultimately running into OPERATOR 2's vessel. OPERATOR 1 stated he was going approximately 15 MPH. OPERATOR 1 said he didn't see OPERATOR 2's vessel until he was about to collide with it. OPERATOR 1 kept holding his left wrist and it appeared swollen. I asked OPERATOR 1 if he would get checked out by Ocean City Fire and EMS, which he agreed to.
  Upon returning to the rental company, OPERATOR 1 was evaluated by OCFD and he refused treatment. I issued OPERATOR 1 citations for the following:
  Failure to obey navigation rules of the road/ rule 7
  Failure to obey navigation rules of the road/ rule 5
  Two warnings were also issued for PWC speed regulation violations.
  I provided OPERATOR 1 the NRP case number and a copy of his citations and told him he was free to leave. I provided the manager of the rental company with the case number and told him to make contact with me shortly with a damage estimate to the PWC.
  Cleared without further incident.
  On 07/16/2020 I made contact with OPERATOR 2 and he stated the estimate to fix his vessel was approximately $5,000.
  On 07/20/2020 at approximately 1300 hours I responded to the rental company in reference to obtain information that I repeatedly requested from involving the above vessel accident. I was finally able to speak with the owner of the business, I advised him I needed the information and have been waiting on his business to provide me with the insurance information and damage estimates. The owner stated the PWC was a total loss and due to it being a used PWC, it would cost approximately $5,000 to replace with another used PWC.
  Cleared without further incident.
  All the above events occurred in Worcester County, Maryland.
  