On or about the 7th of October 2023. I, State Game Warden, received a phone call at approximately 0800 in the morning regarding a boat accident that occurred in the Upper Laguna Madre Bay system. Based on information provided by both parties, the accident occurred in a channel that parallels the JFK Causeway at approximately (27 degrees38'00''N 97degrees14'29''W) by the wooden sign that is located on the south side of the channel entrance. The caller was later identified whom is a passenger in vessel number 2 in this report. I arrived on scene at approximately 0855 and came into contact  Operator is the owner and operator of vessel number 1 in this report. 

After speaking with Operator, he advised me that he was trying to go into the channel that parallels the JFK causeway, he mentioned that vessel 2 was, "doing some kind of turn" in the entrance to the channel, he mentioned that he blared his horn at them until they saw him because he wanted to go that way. Operator again mentioned that they were turning into the channel. He said that he couldn't go in there because he didn't know what they were doing. He mentioned again that he blared his horn to make them aware that he was there. He also mentioned that he was giving them a wide berth because of the sign that was at the south end of that channel. He mentioned that he was going, "further out that way" as he gestured his hands as if he was getting closer to the sign. He then states that, they finally saw him, and that he was just letting them know he was there. He then states again that he didn't know what they were doing but vessel 2 started drifting towards him. Operator 1 said he accelerated a little bit and ran into the pole (wooden sign at south end of channel entrance), bounced off of it and said that vessel 2 was next to his and when he bounced off of the pole, he bounced onto vessel 2. Operator 1 said the port side hit the sign and the starboard, front, side hit vessel 2. After listening to Operator 1 side of what happened I made sure no medical attention was needed. No one wanted medical attention. I conducted my water safety inspection of vessel 1 and found that they had 2 of 4 life jackets. This made them insufficient 2 life jackets for the amount of people on board. There was a total of 4 people on vessel 1. After speaking with Operator and conducting my investigation/ water safety inspection on vessel 1, I went to vessel 2 and began my investigation. 

I Approached vessel 2 and announced myself as Game Warden, and asked if everyone was Ok and if anyone needed EMS and I was advised that EMS was not needed. I identified the two individuals on Vessel 2 and they were owner/ operator and caller/ passenger. After identifying the two individuals, I conducted my water safety inspection on vessel 2. Once the water safety inspection was complete, I asked Operator what happened. Operator explained that their boat (vessel 2) was in-between the channel marker (white PVC pipe at North part of Channel entrance) and the sign (wooden sign at south end of the channel entrance). Operator told me that they were inside the channel marker and that he (Operator boat, vessel 1) and says, "Just letting you know, I'm here, I'm coming this way". Operator said that he went in-between them and the sign, bounced off the sign and ran into their boat. I asked where he  hit. They showed me that he hit the rear, starboard side of the boat and the power pole. I saw fiberglass damage to the haul of vessel 2's boat where they said vessel 1 collided with their boat. I also stood at the bow of vessel 2's boat and looked back at the power pole and noticed that it was slightly bent towards the outboard motor. He advised me that the power pole still functioned. I asked the owner of the boat how much damage he thinks was done to the boat. They concluded and told me about $1,500.00. 

I then had Operator 2 draw on a piece of note paper that I had to the best that he can an image of what happened. Operator 2 explained to me that he tried to get away from vessel 1. He said that the pole (power pole) was down and made hand gestures saying that his boat was facing south bound because of the wind. This would put his boat facing the sign. Operator 2 explained to me that when he noticed that vessel 1 was heading towards them, that he turned but there was not enough time. After I concluded my investigation with vessel 2 and the occupants, I released them from the contact.

I then walked back over to Operator 1 and Vessel 1. I had Operator 1 draw on a piece of note paper I had on what happened the way he saw it. I explained to Operator 1 the violations he had with the water safety equipment. Operator 1 was cited 1 time for insufficient number of PFD's and given 1 warning for Insufficient number of PFD's. I then released Operator 1 and Vessel 1.

After assessing the damage on Vessel 1 and 2, and listening, Operators stories, I was able to come to a conclusion on what happened. I determined that vessel 1 hit the sign located at the south end of the channel entrance as they were headed into the channel. When vessel 1 hit the sign, it bounced off, and continued a path in the direction towards vessel 2. Vessel 1 tried to speed up to avoid collision with vessel 2. As Vessel 2 saw that vessel 1 was heading in their direction, the wind was pushing their boat to face south bound, and when vessel 2 turned to head out of the channel, the wind had pushed their boat further towards vessel 1 causing a collision. The damage from vessel 1's haul location matched the location of the damage on vessel 2's gunwale, side and power pole where vessel 1 had collided with vessel 2. Pictures and BWC are available. End Report.
7370 UPPER LAGUNA MADRE
Corpus Christi                