RedactedNarrative: At approximately 1259 hours on July 17, 2021, MNRP was dispatched for two persons in the water with injures due to a vessel accident. The location of the accident was in the vicinity south of Tolchester Beach (N39'10.962/W076'16.313), Chesapeake Bay, Kent County, Maryland.  I advised dispatch to contact Area 3 or 5 to see if the had officers on the water for a faster response due to my time and distance from the incident. Area 3 units were dispatched to assist.  USCG was also en route to the incident.  Both individuals were retrieved from the water and taken to Tolchester Beach Marina with life threatening injuries.
  The two injured parties are as follows:
  VICTIM 1 was struck by the boat propeller on his lower back and butt region.  
  VICTIM 2 fell overboard and nearly drown.
  My initial investigation revealed that a total of 6 persons were onboard an 18 foot vessel, south of Tolchester Beach.  For reasons unclear VICTIM 2 fell overboard and was drowning.  VICTIM 1 jumped in the assist and was struck by the propeller.  Along with the assistance of a good samaritan and USCG both individuals were taken to Tolchester Beach Marina for medical treatment and further evacuation for Shock Trauma.  
  The weather in and around the bay included fairly heavy seas with moderate wind, sunny with a heat index of 104 degrees  
  I was unable to talk with the other passengers onboard due them retuning to their home port.   Area 5 officers meet the vessel at River Side Marina in Essex, Baltimore County were they spoke with the passengers and taken witness statements.   
  The vessel accident form will be filled out when witness statements and supporting documents are uploaded by assisting officers. 
  All events occurred in Kent and Baltimore County Maryland.   There are no pending charges and no further police action is required.  
  On Saturday July 17th 2021, Maryland Natural Resources Police was on routine patrol in Middle River when I received a phone call from SGT 1 asking for backup at Riverside Marina.
     Once I arrived on scene, I was informed by SGT 1 about a vessel emergency incident that occurred earlier in Kent County between Tolchester Beach and Rockhall. SGT 1 advised me that Area 2 Officers requested assistance in locating and identifying the operator and passengers on a vessel.  The vessel described was an  18’5 foot, 2007 Key West vessel bearing a MD registration 5380 B. SGT 1 located the vessel as it was arriving at Riverside Marine.  Upon my arrival, SGT 1 identified  the operator as OPERATOR 1 and was docking at Riverside Marine, located in Middle River.
  I made contact with OPERATOR 1, as well as three friends who were also aboard his vessel at the time of the incident. 
  I separated OPERATOR 1 away from the other parties and asked him if he had had anything to drink, OPERATOR 1 answered only 1 drink. I performed HGN on OPERATOR 1 and he showed zero out of six clues on HGN. I then gave all parties a NRP -425 Witness Statement to fill out.  I asked them if they left the scene immediately after the accident. OPERATOR 1 stated that after their friends were assisted by the Good Samaritan and transferred to the USCG vessel, the USCG told us we could head back to our marina.
  Witness statements have been attached to this report.
  