RedactedNarrative: Vessel 1, a rented pontoon boat was returned to the rental business with crash damage.  Business owner called law enforcement to file a report.  Vessel 1 with 6 on board was traveling upbound on the Milwaukee River approaching the E Wells Street bridge.  Operator stated that there was a larger boat in the center of the river under the bridge, so he navigated towards the eastern edge of the river in an attempt to not obstruct the large boat’s navigation, not realizing the height of the rental pontoon was larger than the opening in the section of bridge he would be traveling under.  
  
  Operator stated the bridge struck the windshield and console area of the rental pontoon along with the bimini top which then forced the port bow area of the boat into the concrete pillar which supported the bridge.  
  
  Operator stated there were no injuries to anyone onboard.  Operator stated he then returned the boat to the rental business.  Operator stated he was only familiar with 2 of the passengers onboard.  Operator stated that he was not aware that he needed to report the boat collision because he was unfamiliar with the laws regarding boat collisions and he subjectively believed that the damage to the vessel did not rise to the reporting threshold.
  