On March 27th, 2023, at approximately 1630 hours, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).  I was on patrol, in uniform, In Key Largo, Monroe County Florida. 
 
While on duty, I received a call from our dispatch center regarding a vessel accident in Key Largo, Fl. Reporting person stated their neighbors vessel was struck on the starboard side and the striking vessel left the area, but was able to get picture of the Florida registration number.
I arrived at in Key Largo, I met with the neighbor. They explained to me that he heard a crash and quickly came outside and once he came out, he saw his neighbor’s boat rocking against the seawall. They explained to me that he saw the vessel driving away and that a neighbor a few houses down was able to get a picture and They provided me with the Florida registration number and a phone number for the neighbor who saw the vessel accident. 

I met with the neighbor.  They explained to me that he saw a boater come into the canal and he saw them struggling to turn around and they began to throttle back and forth causing them to hit the Intrepid a couple of times and once the vessel turned around, he was able to get a picture of the registration number. I spoke with V2 owner via phone and he explained to me that his neighbors called him regarding his vessel being struck and that he only lives in Key Largo part-time.

V1 is a 21FT Robalo registered to a OP1.

On March 28th, 2023, I was able to locate a phone number for a OP1. I called the phone number, and a OP1 answered the phone. I explained to OP1 that I’m with FWC and would like to meet in person to discuss a vessel incident that occurred the day before and OP1 agreed to meet with me. I later arrived at OP1 residence, and I identified her as OP1. 

 I asked OP1 if she was on her vessel the day before and she explained to me that she was. I asked her if she recalled striking another vessel in a canal the day before. OP1 explained to me that her and her husband launched the boat and her husband was the drive the trailer and she was to drive the boat back to their residence. She continued to explain that she got lost and went down the wrong canal and she was in some panic, she explained she turned the boat around in the canal and did not know she hit another vessel and therefore why she did not know she needed to contact Law Enforcement to make a report.
GULF
KEY LARGO                     