On July 21, 2023 at approximately 2230 hours OP1 was traveling NorthEast toward Upper Goose Bayou when he struck a Channel Marker number 4.
I then looked at OP1 and asked what happen and how did the accident accrued. He informed me that he was coming back to Upper Goose Bayou around 2230 hours and he struck a channel marker 4 outside of Upper Goose Bayou.  I then asked f he was the only on the vessel he said yes.  I then asked if he was he injured from the accident he said no.  At that time Senior Officer arrived at my location.  I then asked how he didn't see the channel marker.  He informed he heard something fall in vessel and he turned around and when he turned around is when he struck the channel marker and also informed that channel marker dose not have light on it.  Officer asked why he waited until the next day to report the accident.  OP1 had no answer for not reporting the accident when it accrued.  I then asked if  he noticed if the channel marker was still standing.  He said he doesn't know if the channel marker was still there.  Officer asked if he could down load his vessel tracks off of his vessels GPS and OP1 agreed.  I then asked if OP1 would give me a sworn written statement and he agreed.  After OP1 gave me the statement I uploaded to the report.  I then gathered all the information for the vessel and insurance policy and took pictures of the vessel.  I then left the area to do more investigations on the accident.  Later that day Officer meet me with the GPS tracks of the vessel.  After going over the GPS and following the tracks we were able to determine that he struck the channel marker around 2239 hours on July 20, 2023 and was able to get to the docks around 2300 hours.  On July 22, 2023 I was able to locate the channel marker that OP1 struck and the channel marker had been broken off at the water line.  The USCG had placed a can buoy at the location of the accident. After my investigation was done I charged OP1 with Florida Statue 327.30(5) Leaving the scene of a Boating Accident without notifying the person affected and Law Enforcement.

upper goose bayou
LYNN HAVEN                    