On June 18, 2023, at approximately 4:32 P.M., I, Ofc. along with Cpl., both of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, received a call for service from the DNR communications center for a person ejected from a Personal Watercraft (PWC) in the area of Leeds Creek on the Miles River.

    At approximately 4:45 P.M., I arrived at the scene in NRP843, near land. I observed two individuals in the water wearing PFDs with the unoccupied PWC displaying Maryland registration, approximately 150 yards away from the individuals in the water. 

I observed another PWC displaying Maryland registration, with one individual onboard the PWC waving his arms. I attempted to lift Operator1 onto NRP 843 when he yelled out in pain. As I was repositioning Operator1 so I could pull him onto the patrol vessel, St. Michael’s Fire Boat arrived at the scene with a better means to pull Operator1 onto a vessel. 

Operator1 and Subject1 were pulled aboard the fire boat where Cpl. assisted in bringing the individuals onto the vessel. With both individuals onboard, the fire boat headed to where Talbot County Emergency Services were staged to await for their arrival. I assisted Operator2 with the retrieval and securing of the victim’s vessel before going to assist Cpl. with removing Operator1 from the fire boat.

    At approximately 5:00 P.M., Talbot County EMS departed the area to transport Operator1 to Easton Memorial Hospital (Run # 2023-00044195.) Subject1 and Operator2 operated the PWCs back to Oak Creek Landing where their vehicle and trailer were located. We arrived at Oak Creek Landing at approximately 5:15 P.M., where witness statements were obtained from both operators of the PWCs. 

The operator of the victim's vessel stated they were cruising at approximately 30mph when they were hit by vessel wake on the starboard side of the PWC. This caused both individuals to be ejected off the PWC and into the water. Subject1 noticed Operator1 was having issues swimming and yelling in pain. Subject1 stated there were no vessels in the nearby area except for Operator2 which was approximately 50 yards in front of them. Subject1 held onto Operator1 as Operator2 turned around and realized the situation. Operator2 called 911 after observing the limited mobility of Operator1. No damage occurred to any vessel.

    All events occurred in Talbot County, Maryland.
Miles River-Leeds Creek
St Michaels                   