At approximately 5:42PM I, Conservation Police Officer (CPO) was dispatched by Illinois State Police dispatch referencing a boat versus boat accident with property damage only. CPO and I arrived on scene at approximately 6:26PM.  I met with an employee in the parking lot of Spring Brook Marina in Seneca who explained vessel #1 hit vessel #2 while turning and attempting to dock. There is heavy damage to both vessels. 

Vessel #1 with IL registration had heavy damage to the port side and middle toons (see attached pictures). He stated that the rental pontoon came into the harbor area and hit the throttle hard. The rental hit the engine of another docked pontoon at the marina. The employee stated that the operator of the rental pontoon left quickly after the event occurred.

When the incident occurred the Mercury 150HP engine of vessel #2 was trimmed down in the water. The engine was trimmed up out of the water when I arrived. There was a large gauge in the port side and split at the seam from the bottom to the top. There were cracks throughout. On the starboard side there are punctures on the side and scrapes on the metal surrounding. There are dents in the toons from where they hit the dock (see attached pictures).

CPO interviewed the passengers of vessel #2 and explained that two people admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana while on board, but they were not sure if Operator1 had smoked anything. They stated the throttle had stuck numerous times throughout their day. 

The employee that called dispatch stated the gas dock workers possibly would have seen something. I spoke with all three gas dock employees. They advised that the individuals on the rental boat pulled a bunch of coolers on board, a Rubbermaid full of mushrooms that “look like coral,” and were smoking a joint. 

The owner of vessel #2 informed me that he was on the boat snapping the cover on when he heard a throttle accelerate hard, looked back and saw the boat, dove into the steering column for cover and that is when the boat hit his. his wife, was on the dock observing and stated, “I watched my entire family life flash before my eyes.”

I spoke with Operator1 and asked what happened. He stated that he took over operating because the man operating was not comfortable turning the boat around. During the conversation he informed me that he never meant to cause damage and had not been drinking. Operator1 explained that all he could do was turn the wheel hard and try to get away. I asked him if he had any boating experience or any outside boat training in regards for the accident report. He advised he had boated before but did not have any outside training. Operator1 expressed to me that he was upset because he had been told by an employee that he was okay to leave. Throughout our conversation he advised that at one point there were eight people on board the pontoon. He did not believe there were enough life jackets on board for all eight people.

Illinois River
Seneca                        