RedactedNarrative: On 09/14/21, I, Officer First Class of the Maryland Natural Resources Police was called to Tilghman Island for a boat accident. It was reported that a 42’ sailboat collided with the Knapp’s Narrows draw bridge as it was closing. It was reported the sailboat sustained a broken mast and large hole in the bow but was still operable.
  
  Upon arrival I located the damaged vessel named “Kailani” on the floating dock at Knapp’s Narrows Marina. I made contact with the owners. They both stated when they were attempting to pass through the bridge under power, the draw bridge closed and struck the mast on their sailboat. They said they were with another sailboat named “Zap” who was in front of them. They stated there was a motor vessel named “Egret” in front of “Zap” and he was the one that hailed the bridge. They advised “Zap” had hailed the bridge on VHF channel 68 with no reply then switched to VHF channel 13 to ask the bridge to hold for their two sailboats. Subject2 later stated on an NRP-425A that there was no response from the bridge tender but the bridge opened (for "Egret"). She said after they passed under the bridge it began to lower and she watched as "Kailani" collided with the closing bridge. 
  
  According to Subject1, she and Subject2 went to the bridge operator after they had passed through to ask him what happened. Subject1 and Subject2 said they made contact with the bridge operator.  They stated Bridge operator was "ignorant" and put the blame on the sailboat for hitting the bridge. They also said Bridge operator told them he opened the bridge for “Egret” and that when he saw “Kailani” they were far enough back that they had plenty of time to stop before they hit the bridge.
  
   
  
                  I interviewed Subject2 and Subject3 at their sailboat “Zap”. They both told me that once the bridge opened they called to the bridge on channel 68 then 13 to let the bridge know they and another sailboat were going to pass along with “Egret”. Subject2 said there was no response from the bridge but they proceeded since the bridge was open. Subject2 stated once they were through they looked behind them just as the bridge was closing on “Kailani”. Subject3 advised they were 50- 75ft past the bridge when they saw it come down onto “Kailani”.
  
   After obtaining written statements form all parties on the sailboats, I responded to the bridge to interview Bridge operator. Bridge operator was waiting for us and already had a written statement prepared. He stated he had received a call at 10:04 A.M. from “Egret” a Poplar Island Ferry for a bridge opening. He then saw the first sailboat, “Zap”, close behind the Egret. He did not hear any calls from the sailboats and when asked if he monitors channel 68 (on VHF) he stated “no”, he only monitors channel 13 and he never heard the sailboats hailing him. 
  
  Once "Zap" passed under the bridge he began to lower the draw bridge. He also mentioned once the bridge is in motion either up or down it cannot be stopped midway through, it has to complete it's cycle.  He also advised he saw “Kailani” and saw Subject1 sitting on the deck watching the bridge come down. He stated they were far enough away from the bridge he believed they would have stopped. The bridge was not damaged from their sailboat striking it. He called his supervisor of Chesapeake Pilots Training Inc. which is the company that supplies bridge tenders for State Highway Administration. 
  
  Once all the statements were obtained and pictures were taken I advised subject1 they could leave. Subject stated they keep the boat at Gibson Island but they were taking it to Javins yacht yard in Annapolis for repairs, when asked what he estimated the damages to be he said between 50,000 and 60,000 dollars. He said Subject3 and Subject2 would be following them to Annapolis on their boat, “Zap”. Subject later called me and advised they arrived safely.
  
   
  
  All events occurred in Talbot County MD
  