On 08/20/2023 at approximately 7:20 PM, V1 Operator backed into two PWCs, owned by V3 Owner and V2 Operator, at the City Boat Launch in Marseilles. One of the PWCs was occupied by V2 Operator at the time of the collision. I was dispatched to the scene at approximately 7:28 PM.

V1 Operator's wife, Witness 1, was using a rope to hold onto their vessel positioned upstream at the tip of the eastern most dock on the ramp whilst V1 Operator went to retreive their truck and trailer from the parking lot. V2 Operator stated V1 Operator was visibly upset at his wife upon his return because of scrateches on the side of their vessel. V2 Operator stated additonally that V1 Operator entered his boat and shifted into reverse and collided with him and his PWC, as well as V3 Owner's PWC that he was holding onto at the tip of the far west dock. V2 Operator stated that the stern of V1 Operator's boat pushed up onto his PWC and pushed him overboard, pinning his right leg between his PWC and the rip rap bank.

V3 Owner was retrieving the truck and trailer for his PWC and stated the only thing he heard was commotion at the boat ramp and saw a large cloud of exhaust from V1 Operator's vessel. Witness 1 stated she was not on V1 Operator's boat and turned when she heard noise behind her and saw that V1 Operator had collided with the two PWCs. She stated she left and emergency services was contacted. 

Upon interview, V1 Operator admitted fault and stated that he could not get his boat to shift out of reverse before it struck the two PWCs. V2 Operator was the only individual that was injured from the collision and suffered lacerations to his right leg and minor scrapes to his left leg. He refused medical attention and tranport from EMS. V2 Operator's PWC suffered multiple scrapes to the hull as well as a puncture through the hull. V3 Owner's PWC suffered cosmetic damage to the hull. V1 Operator's vessel had damage to the propeller, exhaust, and cracks in the stern swim platform.

CPO 2 and I collected all of the vessel information, took photgraphs, and gathered statements from witnesses and individuals involved and departed the scene at approximately 8:22 PM.
Illinois River
Marseilles                    