RedactedNarrative: At approximately 1:30pm on 5/14/2022, I received a call from our regional Orlando Regional Communication Center (ORCC) regarding two personal watercraft (PWC) that had collided in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) near Sister Keys in Manatee County.  Longboat Police Department and Manatee County Sheriff's Office Marine Units, along with SeaTow Inc. were able to identify the operators of both vessels, secure the vessels, and get them back to Mar Vista/Linley Street Boat Ramp on Longboat Key.  
  
  During my interview with Operator2, she was unable to provide many details on what had happened.  Operator2 could not remember if she had fallen off the PWC at the time of impact.  She eventually shared with me that she had been driving her PWC through the mangroves of Sister Keys and when she emerged just south of the island, was struck by the other PWC.  She stated she didn’t have time to react before being struck.  Operator2’s PWC suffered significant damage to the front left/bow area of the vessel.  A large 12-16” hole in the bow/hull was observed.  There was additional fiberglass damage on the left side of the vessel near the registration numbers, just forward of the footwell.  The rub rail on the left side of the vessel was also peeled back from the bow of the vessel to the stern.  Operator2 continued to decline receiving medical attention to the abrasion/contusion on her left thigh, however EMS persuaded her to allow them to clean and dress the injury upon their arrival. Operator2 had her Boaters Safety Card, registration, insurance information and identification in possession.
  
  
  Operator1 arrived at the dock riding in tandem on another subject’s PWC as SeaTow, Inc. brought the partially sunken PWC over.  Operator1 stated he was uninjured in the accident.  Operator1 stated that he had met up with the friends on their “jet ski’s” after he anchored his boat at Jewfish Key.  He said that he jumped on one of the “skis” to show the others around the area.  He adamantly denied renting the PWC from anyone and repeatedly stated the “skis” were a friend’s.  When asked what happened, Operator1 stated they had been riding the PWC’s through the cut in Sister Keys.  It was determined that he came out of the cut in a southeastward direction.  He said another PWC was following him and as he was turning, he looked behind him and noticed the occupants had fallen off their PWC.  He turned back to face forward just as the PWC operated by Operator2 was emerging from the cut and the bow his vessel struck the front left bow area of her vessel.  Operator1 stated that both he and Operator2 were knocked off their vessels at the time of impact.  Severe damage was observed to the bow/hull area of the PWC Operator1 was operating both above and below the waterline.  An approximate two foot section of the bow and hull were missing.  The hood of the PWC was missing, and the handlebars had also been removed either during the accident or as a result of the salvage/towing of the vessel.  The PWC arrived at the dock over 95% submerged and capsized.  Operator1 could not produce any identification or Boater Safety Card at the time and stated they were back in his boat on Jewfish Key.
  