On July 16, 2023, at approximately 0800 hours, I Officer First Class was requested to obtain written statements from the occupants of the vessel involved in the boat accident that had occurred on July 16, 2023 at approximately 0130 hours.  I responded to Christiana Care Hospital in Elkton MD and was informed that one person had been released from the hospital and the other had been transferred to Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, DE.  

I also spoke to the owner of the vessel, Owner (father of Victim1) and he informed me the vessel was still on the beach at 101 Lance Court.  He was waiting for high tide later that morning so he could place the vessel on a trailer.  He also told me his son, Victim1 had gone to a residence to get some sleep. 

I traveled to Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, DE.  When I arrived, I was able to locate Victim2, however, he was undergoing surgery to his face.  I asked him if he was able to talk and ask him a couple of questions and he said he would try.  Victim2 told me in his own words that they had been fishing until approximately 0000 hours and then headed to the Chesapeake Inn.  

They departed a little after 0100 hours and Victim2 operated the vessel out of the slip.  He told me he turned the helm over to Victim1 as they were leaving the Chesapeake City Basin.  He couldn’t remember if he was standing or sitting and then the next thing he remembered was waking up covered in blood.  He made a comment that “why aren’t the markers lighted”.  

I asked if anyone had been consuming alcohol and he said they had had a couple of drinks, maybe two or three.  He stated that Victim1 had been drinking a Seltzer style drink and had maybe had one or two Seltzers.  I confirmed that Victim2 had been a passenger and he stated he was a passenger.  At this time, I felt it was important to talk to Victim1, so I left a Witness/Victim statement with Victim2’s mother and asked them to complete the form once Victim2 was able to and I would return to pick up the written statement.

I then traveled and made contact with Owner. He was getting ready to tow the vessel to a community boat ramp approximately 200 yards upriver from the current location.  I captured a few photographs of the vessel floating and then he proceeded to have a friend tow the boat to the boat ramp.  At the boat ramp I assisted with placing the vessel of the trailer and then climbed aboard the vessel to take photographs.  

Owner asked if I could pass him the tackle box, which as actually an Igloo cooler.  I opened the lid to the cooler and observed it was full of empty alcoholic beverages with a half full bag of ice under the empty beverages.  The ice was still frozen.  I laid out the empty alcoholic beverage cans and took a photograph.  I proceeded to take photographs of the vessel.  

I noticed a pool of blood next to and slightly under the outboard engine cowling cover, which was laying on the deck behind the starboard helm location.  The cowling cover must have come off with the impact of the crash, since it was not secured to the outboard engine in the photograph taken the night of the accident.  

The helm seat was also broken and laying on the deck.  I observed the windshield, access cover and door to the forward cuddy cabin area of the vessel were all broken from the impact.  The cuddy cabin area had several life vests and a Type IV throw cushion scattered around.  There was a yellow bucket on the floor of the cuddy cabin that contained several items, including an empty alcoholic beverage and the vessel certificate of documentation.  

There was a stereo control console located on storage shelf on the upper port side of the cuddy cabin.  It was still on and looked like it had been previously located in a cut-out section of the bulkhead wall between the deck and cuddy cabin of the vessel.  The force of the impact had forced it forward and out of the cut-out.  However, someone had moved it to the shelf where I observed it.  I also noticed from comparing photographs that I took to a photograph taken the night of the accident that there was a fishing pole in a rod holder on the port side however I did not see any fishing rod when I took photographs.  

Therefore, someone had removed items from the vessel and moved items around within the vessel.
After the vessel was safe to transport, Owner drove the trailer to this residence. 

I traveled to interview Victim1.  I made contact with Victim1 at 1300 hours.  He completed the Witness/Victim Statement whilst I waited and after reading his statement, I noticed that Victim1 stated he was a passenger.  Therefore, both Victim2 and Victim1 stated they were passengers, neither stated they were operating the vessel.  Victim1 stated Victim2 took the helm when they departed from the Chesapeake Inn and continued to operate the vessel.  Victim1 stated he was looking down and texting or adjusting the stereo until he felt an impact.  I asked why Victim2 had been operated and Victim1 said that he (Victim1) had been drinking and Victim2 was a cop.  Victim1 did state they were cruised at a slow speed from when they left the Chesapeake Inn until they passed the Dann's Towing Marine, located approximately 1/2 mile west of the Chesapeake City bridge, and sped up to a planing speed.

At approximately 1430hrs, Officer First Class and I, went to Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, DE to pick up Victim2’s written statement.  After reading Victim2's statement I noticed discrepancies between Victim1' and Victim2's statements.  Victim2 was advised of his Miranda rights and refused to answer any addition questions without and attorney present.

All events occurred in Cecil County, MD and New Castle County, Delaware.
80 South Shore Rd, Elkton
Emily Point                   