On Saturday July 6, 2023, I, Corporal of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, along with Officer, were on a vessel stop on the South River on the south side the Riva Bridge. Midway through the vessel stop, I observed a white powerboat, displaying Maryland registration, exceeding the Riva Bridge marked speed zone. 

I made an attempt to flag the operator of the vessel in my direction, to which he complied. As the operator neared my vessel, he yelled over to me that someone on the vessel was injured and proceeded to state that the individual had sustained a laceration to their leg. 

There was a female standing in front of Operator on the phone. She yelled over to me that she was currently on the phone with 911. They did not provide me with any more information regarding the extent of the injuries on board the vessel, but did notify me that Anne Arundel County Fire and EMS was going to meet the vessel at Oak Grove Marina. Due to the unknown severity of the laceration, I yelled over at the operator to continue his response to that location and I would meet them there. The vessel stop was immediately concluded and Ofc. and I responded by boat to Oak Grove Marina.

As we pulled into Oak Grove Marina, Anne Arundel County Fire and EMS were already on scene and had begun treating the injured individual. The injured individual was sitting in a seat on the stern of the vessel. He appeared calm, alert and was awake while being treated. a family friend and passenger on the vessel, was sitting next to Victim with his hand held up, making an attempt to block the field of vision for Victim so he would not be looking at the injury. 

I saw three young children, all wearing life jackets, seated inside the bow of the vessel, all alert, calm, and uninjured. I approached Operator, who was wearing a South River Boat Rentals tee-shirt, and asked him to describe to me what had happened. 

He briefly stated that he was operating the vessel when Victim jumped in the water from the swim platform of the vessel and sustained a leg injury from the propeller of the vessel. Operator was asked if he had been drinking or had taken any drugs while out on the waterway. He stated that he had not been drinking at the time of the accident. I did not see any signs of impairment and did not detect an odor of alcoholic beverages coming from Operator while talking to him. 

It was at that time Anne Arundel County Fire and EMS notified me that Victim was going to be transported on Medic Unit to Anne Arundel County Medical Center. They stated that Victim was going to get his wound cleaned up and ensure there were no other injuries Victim had sustained. Victim was unable to get off the vessel himself and had to be lifted off the vessel and carried to the medical stretcher by Anne Arundel County EMS personnel. His mother went with Medic Unit to the hospital. Once Medic Unit had cleared the scene, we followed Operator by boat to South River Boat Rentals to continue obtaining witness statements as to the events that occurred.

While talking to Operator and subject1, they both stated that the group had been tubing right before the accident occurred. Operator added that he was operating at the time and was making an attempt to pick two individuals up who had just fallen off the tube. 

Operator stated he had “just bumped the vessel into reverse” when Victim had jumped from the swim platform located at the stern of the vessel. According to witness statements, Operator immediately ran to the stern of the vessel, while it was drifting in a backwards motion, and immediately grabbed Victim by his life jacket, pulling him back into the vessel. 

Operator stated that initially he did not know Victim was injured. He stated Victim appeared quiet and did not say anything after being picked up out of the water. Then, according to Operator, Victim opened his legs and he could see “three cuts” indicative of a propeller strike on the inside of his right leg by Victim’ knee. After seeing the cuts on Victim’ leg, he stated the individuals on board immediately began treating the laceration to the best of their abilities while he operated back to Gingerville Creek. 

Operator stated that when he saw our patrol vessel in the area, he knew he could get our attention by exceeding the marked 6 knot speed zone, and in doing so, he would be able to alert us of what had just happened. Operator made it clear several times throughout our interview that Victim was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.

Officer First Class of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, responded to Anne Arundel Medical Center to obtain witness statements from Victim’ parents. Both statements taken from the parents matched the statements taken from Operator. Ofc. was able to confirm that Victim had sustained a laceration which required stitches and was going to be released from the hospital later that evening.

Operator was hired by the group as a captain to operate the vessel and is employed with South River Boat Rentals. He holds an active United States of America Merchant Mariner Credential, which was issued January 11, 2021. A photograph of Operator’s credential will be included in this report.

At the time of the accident, vessel traffic on the South River was moderate with slight choppy waves estimating approximately six inches due to the vessel traffic. The expected high for the day, according to The Weather Channel, was 83 degrees with a forecast low of 72 degrees. It was mostly cloudy at the time with thunderstorms in the area. Winds were blowing in a south-easterly direction at 11 MPH, expected to shift out of the south at 10 to 15 MPH, with an expected sunset at 2035 hours for the Edgewater area. According to the National Data Buoy Center, at 4:34 PM there was an active Small Craft Advisory that was issued for the area from Sandy Point to North Beach, which would encompass the South River area.

All events occurred in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

South River-Oak Grove
Riva                          