RedactedNarrative: On April 30, 2016 I received a delayed report of a boating accident with injuries that occurred in the early morning hours in the area of the Meloy Channel/N of 79 St. Causeway. It was involving a single vessel and an unknown fixed object that occurred at approximately 0400hrs. Indian Creek Police responded and gathered information on the people on board. They identified the operator. Currently, all of the pob's and Operator were located at the vessel owners address. At approximately 0925 hrs I arrived at this address and made contact with the owner of vessel FL8037LM. Owner stated that he was not on the vessel at the time of the accident but that all pob's were inside sleeping. When I asked if I could speak with them, Owner's family members stated that it was not a good time and requested that I return at a later time. I reminded Owner that the operator is required to provide me with details of the accident in a timely manner.
   
  Upon an inspection of the reported accident scene, the vessel was found anchored between the ICW and Meloy Channel at location N 25 52.075  W 80 .08 951. There was tear damage along the port side of the vessel. The point of impact was on the port side bow with frayed fiberglass and brown paint transfer. An inspection of nearby bridges and channel markers could not indicate a positive accident location.
  Later on in the day I received a phone call from subject who stated he was the attorney representing his client. On 5/1/2016 Attorney provided me with a boating accident report filled out by Operator via email (see attached). Operator stated they were traveling North bound when they hit a submerged object. The damage done to the vessel indicates that it struck an object that had to have been protruding out of the water, due to the point of impact being on the bow/rubrail of the vessel. Operator was treated by ems on scene for bruising to the trunk of his body.
   
  Based upon the damage done to the vessel and location where the vessel was recovered I have concluded that Operator was traveling northbound through the Meloy Channel. It is unclear what object Operator struck but it had to have been a hard object raised out of the water with brown paint, similar to the multiple channel markers in the area.
   
  