On June 18th, 2023 at 1030 hours Corporal with The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, spoke with the Coast Guard regarding a 27 foot vessel striking the Georgia Side of the North Jetties in the Savannah River at 0830 hours that morning. 

The operator was a 23 year old male who was out with 4 other family members. Operator1 was going east in the Savannah River and was unfamiliar with the waterways in the area when he veered off too far to the left striking the North Jetties. 

The vessel crossed over the jetties onto the South Carolina side and began taking on water. The family was able to get on the jetties until they were rescued by two fisherman who heard them asking for assistance on channel 16. They were on the fisherman's vessel until the Coast Guard arrived. One of the daughters was 16 years of age and was sent to Memorial Hospital for a check up and it was determined that she has a strained neck. The vessel was floated by sea tow and is out of the water. Chatham County Marine Patrol responded and was able to take pictures of the vessel as it was in the water. Victim was not admitted to the hospital.

	I, Game Warden with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, spoke with the owner of the vessel which was the operator's father. Father explained everything that occurred as it happened and I was able to collect information for report purposes. I checked to see if his son had a valid boater's safety course and he did not. When I questioned the father and the son about it, they were unsure if he had taken one or not, but did not believe that Operator1 had taken one. On June 19th, 2023 I met the both Operator1 and father and gathered more information. I then had them write witness statements. I issued Operator1 a citation for failure to meet boating education requirements.

Savannah River
TYBEE ISLAND                  