RedactedNarrative: On December 31, 2021, Maryland Natural Resources Police, received a report of two subjects who were being transported to Meritus Health Center for injuries sustained in a boating accident on the Potomac River near Hancock, Maryland. Officer 2 of the Maryland Natural Resources Police and I responded to Meritus to interview the injured parties and to investigate the accident. Upon talking with the operator of the vessel, later identified as OP1, OP1 advised he and his passenger had been muskellunge fishing on the Potomac River downstream of the Hancock Boat Ramp. While on their way upriver, towards the ramp, OP1 advised his sunglasses had fallen off his head and when he reached down to pick them up, he had inadvertently steered his boat into a tree on the Maryland shoreline. OP1 advised he had not lost consciousness and he and OCCUPANT had been able to get the boat started, gotten it back up to the ramp, loaded it onto the trailer and then gone to the Hancock Rescue Squad for treatment of their injuries and transport to the Hospital. OP1 advised he had some abdominal pain on his right side, but he had no other visible injuries. OP1 advised his vehicle was currently at the Rescue Squad in Hancock with the involved vessel and trailer. 
          After interviewing OP1, Officer 2 and I interviewed the passenger about the incident. OCCUPANT confirmed OP1 and he had been fishing downriver from the boat ramp in Hancock and upon returning upriver, the boat had struck a tree on the bank. OCCUPANT advised he had been sitting on the rear deck when the collision took place and had been thrown forward into the bow area of the vessel. OCCUPANT confirmed they had been able to load the boat and drive to the Hancock Rescue Squad for treatment. I observed OCCUPANT had sustained a laceration above his right eye and I saw his left ring finger was bandaged as well as his right lower leg area. OCCUPANT told me he had a large laceration on his right shin that had gone deep down to the bone and would need stitches. OCCUPANT also advised his left ring finger tip had sustained a lot of damage. OCCUPANT advised he had been operating boats since 2004 and estimated their speed, at impact, at 20 MPH or so. OCCUPANT also stated he and OP1 had been wearing their life jackets at the time of the collision.
         After interviewing both subjects and determining alcohol or drugs had not been involved in this incident, Officer 2 and I responded to the Hancock Rescue Squad to photograph the damage to the vessel. I observed the right front part of the boat had sustained heavy damage and saw there was tree bark imbedded in the dent on the vessel, which confirmed OP1' and OCCUPANT's accounts of the accident. I observed the windshield was broken and the console was pushed forward at a slight angle, which in turn, appeared to have struck the front deck seat causing it to be tilted forward. I have attached photographs of the vessel to this report. Based on the investigation, it appears OP1 was operating the vessel from behind the center console area and upon impact had been thrown forward into the plastic windshield, which caused it to break in half. I observed a small amount of what appeared to be blood on the front deck seat and on the rear floor of the boat in front of the rear deck. I will be following up with OP1 and OCCUPANT about the accident. I am classifying the accident as preventable and will be issuing OP1 a citation for failure to maintain a proper lookout on a vessel while underway. All events occurred in Washington County, Maryland. OCCUPANT and OP1 were transported by the Hancock Rescue Squad 59. 
  