On 4/13/23 at approximately 1419 hours, I, Corporal of the MD Natural Resources Police, was on patrol near St. Michaels when I received a call from DNR dispatch to respond to the area of the Choptank River for a boat accident. 

DNR dispatch advised an individual had been thrown from his vessel and was currently on a nearby dock and was conscious, but not being responsive. DNR dispatch stated that EMS was already en route.  I advised DNR dispatch I would be stopping to pick up our Jon boat at the Talbot Co. Sheriff office in case we needed to launch to secure the victim's vessel. While en route, DNR dispatch stated that Talbot EMS advised the victim had gone into cardiac arrest and had begun CPR. At that time, Capt. advised he would be responding and also contacted NRP investigators to begin heading to the location. Sgt. arrived on scene at approximately 1440 hours and I arrived approximately 5-8 minutes later. Ofc. also arrived at about the same time, and we went to the rear of the residence to assist with moving the victim off the dock into the ambulance. EMS had already secured the victim to a backboard, and he was being given CPR through the "Lucas Machine." 

We identified the victim by his friend who was on scene. Once, Victim was loaded into the ambulance, EMS advised he was being transported to University of Maryland Shore Medical Center in Easton.   I met with the residents of the property where Victim had been brought onto the dock. I obtained written
statements. 

Both individuals stated, they observed a white speed boat traveling north on the Choptank River and suddenly the boat nose dived into the water and the operator was thrown from the vessel. Subject1 attempted to make contact by yelling to the individual in the water, but got no response at which time he called 911. 

He said the individual was attempting to swim, but in a distressed manner. Several minutes later, a blue boat similar to the victims, arrived and pulled the victim on board and brought him to Subject1's dock. 

Subject1 stated the incident occurred at 38.797406, -75.931296. We also obtained a written statement from subject2 who pulled the victim from the water. Subject2 stated, he responded to the area because he and Victim were testing out propellers on their vessels by running them at high speeds. 

Victim had driven his boat, a 2008 Checkmate Pulsar with a 300 h.p. Mercury, south past Subject1's dock and turned around. He had been returning north to meet up with Subject2 near Gaineys Wharf. When Subject2 realized Victim had not arrived in a reasonable amount of time he went to look for him and found him in the water near his vessel. 

Subject2 pulled him on board his vessel and brought him to Subject1's dock when EMS arrived shortly after and began treating Victim.  While Sgt. and Ofc. remained on scene with witnesses, I responded to University of MD Shore Medical Center in Easton. When I arrived, Capt. was already at the hospital with several members of Victim's family and he advised me Victim was deceased. I spoke with Dr., the ER doctor who had treated Victim when he arrived. He stated, Victim would need a medical examiner to determine a cause of death and the only trauma was a minor laceration to his left ear. 

Corporal and Ofc. of Investigations arrived on scene and met with the family. Corporal responded to the residence and met with the witnesses. I cleared the hospital at approximately 1745 hours.  All events occurred in Talbot County, MD.

Choptank River-Denton to Dover
Easton                        