RedactedNarrative: On 4/25/15 at approximately 1500 hours a 1964, 21 foot, Century open motorboat with a male operator and female passenger was attempting to pass under the Miromar Lakes Parkway bridge heading south from Lake Como. The vessel collided with a section of the bridge and then grounded itself on the rocks under the East side of the bridge. Both occupants of the vessel were thrown forward into the dash and sustained minor injuries. 
  
  Further assessment of the vessel, after being removed from the water, indicated that the steering system was operating normally prior to the accident. The steering system consists of a steering wheel and column which attaches to a rod below deck, and then attaches to the rudder. When the steering wheel was turned, the rod moved forward and backward normally, and caused the rudder to turn right and left normally. The rudder had no play and did not move independently of the rod. 
  
  There was one open beer can found under the driver's seat, and the odor of freshly spilled beer in the vessel. Operator did not show significant signs of impairment during his interview after the accident. 
  
  Operator suffered a laceration over his right eye, and contusions around his right eye, consistent with impacting and breaking the steering wheel. Occupant had bruises to her left ankle, shin, thigh, arm and chest, which were consistent with striking the dash while sitting slightly askew in the passenger seat. 
  
  After being confronted with the evidence that the steering was actually intact, a second interview with Operator revealed additional facts. Operator stated he attempted to turn to starboard to go through the center section of the bridge. When the vessel did not turn as expected, and was headed toward the left column fascia of the bridge, he then attempted to turn to port. Operator stated that when he realized he was going to collide with the bridge, he attempted to put the throttle in reverse, but he "panicked" and instead increased the forward throttle immediately before the collision with the bridge. 
  
  This vessel is equipped with an inboard engine and a relatively small rudder. Under cruising conditions, the thrust from the spinning propeller is deflected off of the rudder as it is turned, which then turns the vessel. However, at slower speeds, with less propeller thrust, the vessel turns at a much less efficient rate because of the relatively small rudder. Immediately prior to the collision, as the vessel came off of plane and attempted to turn starboard to the south two factors were working against its ability to turn. First, the vessel had less propeller thrust to effect efficient steering. Secondly, there was a moderate wind out of the west which pushed the bow to port as Operator attempted to steer to starboard.