RedactedNarrative: On August 29, 2015 at approximately 1600 hrs I was notified by DNR Communications of a reportable watercraft accident from the night prior (8/28/15).  Initially the report was of personal injury.   After investigating, the accident was property damage only.  I made contact with the complainant and arranged to meet him at his residence where he and his vessel were located.  
  
  Upon arriving it was clear there was extensive damage to the vessel as shown in the attached photographs.  I made contact with Operator who began to explain the incident from the night before.  Operator advised he was headed back to Choptank Marina from Snapper's in Cambridge with two other persons aboard his 25' Maycraft center console.   Operator stated that his bow mounted spot light was inoperable, his GPS screen was dim, and he turned around to look at one of his passengers at about 0000 hrs.  Operator turned back around to see a green #39 un-lit channel marker straight ahead.  He explained that he pulled the throttles back and turned hard to starboard to try to avoid the channel marker.  This attempt was too late and the vessel initially struck the channel marker on the port bow.  The secondary damage shows a cracked hull down the entire length of the port side to the stern.  This could be from a secondary impact or from the hull flexing and distributing the initial force of impact.  The operator's chair was ripped from the deck while the occupants were thrown about inside the vessel.  Occupant1 suffered a bruised knee while Occupant2 had a bruise on her hip.  After impact the vessel was taking on water.  Operator described that he was able to make it back to Choptank Marina while the bilge pump ran the entire time (even while on the trailer when he arrived at his residence).  When asked Operator stated that he had two beers while at Snapper's.  
  
  I made contact by phone with both of the other occupants to check on their welfare.  They both advised they were ok and did not seek any medical attention after the accident.  Both individuals explained what they remembered and all of the information corroborated with Operator's recollection.  Operator recorded his account of the night prior on a witness/victim statement which can be found attached to this report.  I issued Operator the following citation and warnings:
  
  6Y66196010 NR 8-704 08.18.01.04 Failure to obey navigational rules (Rules of the road) - Did fail to maintain a proper lookout $85.00
  Warnings - Improper display of vessel registration numbers and decal
  
  All events on 8/28/15 occurred in Talbot County, MD. The interview on 8/29/15 occurred in Caroline County, MD. .
   