September 8, 2023 - Friday

     On the above date I was detailed in reference to an incident involving a personal watercraft. ODU advised that the operator had struck a submerged object which disabled his personal watercraft. 

     SSgt.  Tpr., and I responded where we met with Subject. Subject said that he had been riding his PWC through the creeks in the meadows north of State Highway 147 near what's known as "The Broken Bridge", an abandoned concrete bridge which has begun to collapse into Mill Trail Creek. According to Subject, just north of the Broken Bridge in Gravelly Run, he struck an unknown submerged object which caused severe damage to his PWC. Subject stated he was not injured in the crash. Subject showed us a portion of red fiberglass approximately one foot wide and three feet long which he claimed to be from the hull of his PWC. 

      Subject said that he attempted to bring the PWC back to his dock, but that it was rapidly sinking and he was forced to abandon it on a sod bank near the Broken Bridge. Subject attempted to lead me and Tpr. to where he had abandoned the PWC, but patrol vessel 2202 was limited by draft and we were only able to get within 100 yards of the vessel and were unable to reach the area of the crash to locate the submerged object. Subject advised he would make arrangements to have the ski removed in the coming days. 

September 11, 2023 - Monday

     On the above date Subject notified me that the PWC had been removed from the scene to Grassy Sound Marina where it was hauled out. Additionally Subject provided photographs of the vessel depicting damage consistent with striking a submerged object and with the piece of fiberglass previously described. Subject estimated that the vessel was likely totaled, representing a total loss of $21,000.00. Subject further stated that he had not been able to find the object which he had struck.

GRAVELLY RUN
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP               