On Saturday June 17th, 2023, at approximately 1300 hours I, Game Warden 1, was patrolling the Colorado River in Laughlin, Clark County Nevada aboard a patrol vessel as a double unit with Game Warden 2 when dispatch informed us of a vessel accident on the river in front of the Pioneer Casino between a personally owned jet ski and a U.S. Coast Guard registered water taxi. 

According to both captains involved and additional witness statements, Vessel 1 cut in front of a large passenger vessel at a high rate of speed putting Vessel 1 on direct course with the bow of Vessel 2. The captain of Vessel 2 honked the horn of his vessel several times while reversing and slowing to a near stop. Vessel 1 held its course, likely due to off throttle loss of steering, and did not slow down adequately to avoid collision. Vessel 1 collided with Vessel 2's center pontoon in a bow-to-bow collision. There was no report of injury. Vessel 1 was only occupied by the captain. Vessel 2 was occupied by 9 people according to its captain, but all had left the scene by the time of our arrival. One passenger of Vessel 2 left a witness statement behind identifying herself. 

At the conclusion of my investigation I found the following violations of United States Coast Guard inland navigation rules directly contributing to the collision:
             Vessel 1: 
-     Rule 6- Safe Speed: Vessel 1 failed to proceed at a safe speed so that she could take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

-     Rule 7- Risk of Collision: Vessel 1 did not use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine the risk of collision, particularly when approaching very large vessels at close range.

-     Rule 8- Action to Avoid Collision (f): Vessel 1 is required not to impede the passage/safe passage of the larger vessels, and thus did not take early action to allow sufficient sea room for safe passage of the other vessels involved.

-     Rule 14- Head-on Situation: Vessel 1 did not alter her course to starboard so as to pass the impending vessel on her port. 

-     Rule 16- Action by Give-Way Vessel: Vessel 1 failed to take early and substantial action to keep well clear.

            Vessel 2: 
-     Rule 14- Head-on Situation: Vessel 2 did not alter her course to starboard so as to pass the impending vessel on her port. 

The collision resulted in a cut in the bow of vessel 1 resulting in approximately $3000 worth of damage, and paint transfer on vessel 2 resulting approximately $100 worth of damage.
(Report and body camera available).
Colorado River
Laughlin                      