At 6:59 pm, on July 4th, 2023,  I Officer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police received a call for a PWC accident at Harbor Island Marina. I arrived on scene at the dock aboard NRP874 with Officer at approximately 7:05 pm. Both PWCs were already tied to the dock and all parties were back on land. The PWCs involved in the accident were both 2023 white and reef blue colored Sea Doo GTX Pro 130 rentals through SOMD Water Sports LLC. As I stepped off the boat Subject1 immediately pointed me in the direction of the injured parties which were the occupants of the #1 PWC.

I observed both occupants of the #1 PWC making their way back to the parking lot. The operator was assisting the passenger to their vehicle. Both occupants sustained injuries. Operator1 was bleeding from the right side of his head above his ear and had some bruising on his lower stomach. V1 occupant had swelling and pain near the outside of her right shin. 

The operator stated that they were T-boned on the right side of their PWC by another PWC. Operator1 stated he was fine and did not need medical attention. He stated his girlfriend, V1 occupant, was injured, and he was taking her to the Hospital on base. I advised them that EMS was already en route and Solomons Island was gridlocked due to fireworks and holiday traffic. They agreed to wait until EMS arrived. V1 occupant sat in the passenger side of the vehicle with a bag of ice on her lower leg while I gathered their information.

When I asked Operator1 what happened again, he claimed they had just broken the 6-knot zone leaving Solomons Harbor when both PWCs accelerated in speed. Operator1 stated he was traveling towards the direction of the base (which is located across the other side of the Patuxent River off towards the right) when he and his girlfriend were struck from the right and thrown off their PWC into the water. When I asked Operator1 if he was traveling in a straight direction, he responded “yes”.  Operator1 did not claim fault, but he did mention twice that he should have looked to his side.

While I was dealing with the injured party, Officer spoke with the operator and sole occupant of the #2 PWC. Operator2 claimed no injury and had no visible injury.  Officer also spoke with Operator2’s friend, who was a witness to the accident. Subject2 was operating another PWC within the rental group and claimed she observed Operator1 run into Operator2. Subject2 advised that she was riding behind both parties when she observed Operator1 hit Operator2. Subject2 also stated that Operator2’s PWC flew up into the air when Operator1 hit her and both parties went into the water.

Solomons ambulance & fire on scene at 7:27 pm. V1 occupant was evaluated and later transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital. Operator1 was evaluated by ambulance and refused transportation from EMS. Operator1 claimed he would drive himself to Calvert Memorial to be with his girlfriend and get stitches. Operator2 also spoke with EMS on scene and did not claim the need for further medical assistance.

Officer attempted to have Operator2 contact a guardian as she was a juvenile. Calls would not go through due to the mass amount of people on Solomons Island for the 4th of July causing cell tower issues. Since Operator2 claimed no injury from the accident, was checked out by EMS, and arrived with an adult (Subject2), Sgt. approved her to be released back to that adult. I noticed Operator2 with an ice pack in the marina parking lot as she waited to be released. I heard her tell Subject2 “I didn't even want this I was just hot”. She asked Officer if he wanted it and even made a joke about ditching it, but not wanting to litter in front of the police, so she would take it with her to throw away.

Subject1 stated that Operator1 was at fault. Subject1 claimed he was behind both PWCs when he observed Operator1 cut off Operator2. Subject1 stated Both PWCs were on plane at approximately 30-35mph and Operator1 veered to the right in front of Operator2 causing the collision. Subject1 stated both PWCs flipped, and the occupants went in the water. Subject1 stated that during all the confusion, the occupants swapped PWCs when they got back on and went back to the dock. PWC #2 had visible blood from Operator1 operating it back to the dock.  

I obtained witness statements from Operator1, Subject2, and Subject1 which are uploaded to this report.

PWC #1 has visible damage on the right forward half where one of the reef blue-colored pieces broke off, and the bottom piece is dented/cracked. There are black scuffs in the same area on the white part of the PWC from the point of impact. There is also a crack on the right rear side of the PWC above the footwell. Subject1 stated that since PWC #1 is cracked, he thinks it will be a total loss. He estimated the value of the PWC at $12,700. Pictures of PWC damages are uploaded to this report.

All events occurred in Calvert County, MD

I attempted to contact Operator2's mother on July 10th, 2023 with negative results. I left a message and called back on July 13th, 2023 with negative results. I called again and spoke with Operator2’s mom on July 14th, 2023. Operator2’s mom advised that her daughter went to the hospital 2 days after the accident on July 6th, 2023. Operator2’s mom stated that Operator2 had a concussion and contusion as well as some bruising on her leg, back, neck, and heel. I explained to Operator2’s mom that at the time of the accident, Operator2 did not appear to be injured and expressed that she had no injuries. I also explained that EMS evaluated Operator2 on scene and cleared her. Operator2’s mom stated that Operator2 told her she blacked out in the water. When EMS asked Operator2 if she lost consciousness she stated that she did not. Operator2’s mom also stated that Operator2 does not know her number by heart. Officer had Operator2 use her own phone to attempt contacting her mother to which she claimed the call would not go through. I explained to Operator2’s mom that since Operator2 did not advise us of any injury, appeared to be uninjured, was evaluated by EMS, and was with an adult SGT approved her to be released to that adult. 

I spoke with Subject1 on July 13th, 2023, and he reported the PWC would not result in a total loss. He totaled the damages of materials and labor to $762.97.

All events occurred in Calvert County MD.

Solomons Harbor at Patuxent Ri
Solomons                      