RedactedNarrative: On 07/03/16 at approximately 12:17 P.M. I, Officer along with Ofc. of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, responded to a PWC explosion that occurred at a dock off of the Severn River. Upon arriving on scene, Ofc. and I observed black smoke billowing up into the sky and further observed flames engulfing the entire PWC and part of the dock that it was secured against. We observed several pieces of the debris from the PWC scattered throughout the water as well as several EMS responders. 
  
  Within a few minutes of arriving on scene, Firefighters arrived on scene and extinguished the fire from the PWC and the dock. We then observed the victim being helped from the water and up the dock. I then met with a neighbor, later identified, who had observed the explosion from his residence. Neighbor stated that he was in his yard around 12:12 P.M. when he heard a loud explosion. Neighbor observed a large cloud of black smoke billowing up from the PWC and saw Victim lying face down in the water approximately 20' from where the PWC was docked. Neighbor immediately called 911. Neighbor stated that by the time he got to Victim, a neighbor had already rendered assistance to Victim. Neighbor provided Victim with his paddleboard so he could get himself out of the water. Once the scene was secured, Officer and I gathered up various pieces of debris that were floating in the water. We then towed the PWC to a community pier where it was placed on a trailer and towed to Matapeake.
   
   
  I then went and interviewed Victim at his residence. Victim stated that he had gotten on the PWC and lowered the lift into the water. He then stated he attempted to start the PWC once and it failed to start. Victim stated that on the second attempt there was an explosion and he was tossed approximately 20 ' from the PWC into the water. Victim stated that he was lying face down in the water when a neighbor came and assisted him out of the water. Victim was transported to Baltimore Washington Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries. Victim stated that his right ankle was broken, his left pinky toe was broken, he had a laceration above his left knee, a burn on his right ankle, and a severe burn on his right hip. I asked Victim if there had been a prior issues with the PWC and he stated that his sister had been on it the day before and noticed that it wouldn't go above 35 knots but it had never had any issues starting before. I told Victim that when we were gathering up all the debris we found, what appeared to be, a burnt cigar in the stern of the PWC. Victim stated that he had not smoked the cigar, but rather he was just chewing on it and had placed it on one of the pylons of the pier prior to getting on the PWC. I also inquired as to whether or not the PWC had recently been fueled up with gas. Victim stated "no." Victim stated that they had filled up two 5 gallon gas cans but had never put that fuel into the PWC. 
   
   
   I also spoke to Victim' father to see how much damage was done to the dock from the explosion. Victim' father stated that the boat lift was scorched, the fresh water system on the pier was damaged, the electrical breaker box was destroyed, and part of the pier sustained significant fire damage. The total damage was estimated to be around $5,800. This does not include the PWC, which was estimated to be worth around $8,000.
  
   The investigation will be ongoing but at this time the most likely cause of the explosion appears to be a mechanical malfunction. The operator, Victim is in stable condition and has been released from the hospital. I will be contacting the Fire Marshal's Office to see if they would want to pursue and investigation. No charges have been filed and all events occurred in Anne Arundel  County, Maryland.
  
  