On April 16th, 2023, I, Cpl. of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), and Sgt. (NRP) were on patrol in the area of Cedar Hill Marina when we were informed by NRP Dispatch of four people overboard in Johnson Pond (Rose Street Boat Ramp, Salisbury, MD).  We were advised that all four subjects were on shore at that time and EMS was en route.  While heading to scene, we were advised that two juvenile subjects were being transported to Tidal Health (Salisbury, MD) with unknown injuries.  Due to an extended ETA to scene, I requested that Sgt. go to the hospital to meet with the juveniles and I continue on to the scene.  According to the fire department on scene, the operator of the vessel had loaded up his vessel and wanted to leave to head to the hospital to meet with the juveniles.  

I arrived on scene and met with Assistant Fire Chief of the Salisbury Fire Department.  Chief stated that the vessel operator was identified.  He was operating a white Dodge Dakota and had a 10-12 ft. jon boat in the back of it.  Chief stated that Operator refused treatment on scene and Operator advised he was going to self transport to the hospital to get evaluated.  Chief stated that the two juveniles were transported to Tidal Health to get evaluated for possible hypothermia.  I asked Chief what occurred, and he stated that the boat flipped over in the water and the four occupants, two juveniles and two adults fell into Johnson Pond.  When his crew arrived, the vessel and people in the water were approximately 20ft. from the pier.  Chief sent 3 firemen into the water to assist getting the subjects out of the water.  At the time of the rescue, Chief advised that the subjects were not wearing life jackets.  There were no other witnesses left on scene.

After departing the scene, I went to Tidal Health to meet with Sgt. and check on the juvenile victims.  When I arrived on scene, I observed a white Dodge truck with a small, white jon boat in the bed of the truck leaving the area of the Emergency Room entrance.  By the time I turned around to follow the truck, I lost sight and could not locate the truck in the area of the hospital.  I then parked at the ER ambulance entrance and spoke with hospital staff who informed me where the juveniles were located. 

I first met with subject1 who was accompanied by her grandmother.  Grandmother was acting as the guardian for Subject1 and signed off on all medical releases for the hospital.  I asked Grandmother if she was one of the occupants on the vessel and she stated that she was not.  Grandmother stated that she was on the boat prior to the incident and was there when the boat left with the four people on board.  Her son is Operator and she stated that she told him the boat was too small for all those people (4 people).  I asked for Grandmother's permission to speak with Subject1 and she stated that I could.  I spoke to Subject1 while Grandmother was present in the hospital room.

I asked Subject1 if she could tell me what happened out on the water.  Subject1 stated that when they were out on the water, her dad, Operator, was trying to balance the boat.  She was balancing on one side and her niece, Subject2, was on the other side.  She said her big sister, Subject3, was sitting in the middle.  Subject1 said that she saw water coming in the boat and then the boat flipped over.  Subject1 said that she fell in and her feet touched the bottom of Johnson Pond and her dad pulled her up.  I asked Subject1 if she was wearing a life jacket and she said that she was, but she slipped out of it when she fell in.  I asked Subject1 if she could swim and she stated that she did not know how to swim.  

After speaking with Subject1, I met with Sgt., who had spoken with the other juvenile, Subject2 and her father.  Sgt. obtained a written statement from Subject4 who observed the incident take place from shore (see attached).  I spoke with Subject4 and he stated that Operator was not coming to the hospital and was at his residence.  He also stated that his sister, Subject3, was at her residence and was not going to get evaluated at the hospital. 

I departed the hospital and went to Operator's residence.  I met with Operator at his residence and asked what occurred at Johnson Pond.  Operator stated that he was just taking the girls (Subject1, Subject2 and Subject3) out for a ride on Johnson Pond.  Operator said that he was sitting at the stern and operating the vessel.  The two young girls sat on the middle bench seat, one on each side to balance.  His daughter, Subject3, sat in the center of the middle bench in between the girls.  Operator stated that they were approximately 30 yards away from the Rose Street Boat Ramp when his daughter, Subject3, turned around and sat on the front bench seat of the vessel.  When she moved to the bow, water began to come into the boat from the bow.  Operator stated that the vessel took on water and rolled to the right (starboard side) and flipped over.  All four passengers fell overboard.  Operator stated that he quickly grabbed both of the young girls, Subject1 and Subject2, from the water.  Both of the girls slipped out of their life jackets and could not swim.  Operator stated that he and Subject3 could swim.  Operator state that he tried to flip the boat over but was unable to.  He then stated a male subject had jumped into the water to assist them and they kicked while holding onto the vessel back to shore.  I asked Operator how long did he think he was in the water for and he stated approximately 10-15 minutes.  Operator stated that Subject1 and Subject2 were transported to the hospital, but he and Subject3 refused treatment.  Operator stated that he went home after getting help loading up the vessel to try and warm himself up.  He stated the water was really cold.  Operator advised that his daughter, Subject3, was fine and went home.  I asked Operator to provide Subject3's information and he could only tell me that her name is Subject3.  He could not remember her date of birth and stated that her phone was broken and she recently moved, so he was not sure of her address.

I asked Operator if he could show me the vessel, and he took me to his truck and the vessel was tied up in the bed of the truck.  As I photographed the vessel (photos attached), I had Operator complete a written statement.  The vessel is approximately 8 feet in length, aluminum hull, white in color paint on the outside.  The vessel was displaying a Delaware registration.  The Delware registration sticker on the vessel showed an expiration of 12/31/2022.  I asked Operator about the registration and he stated that his "old lady" had the new registration and he had not put it on the boat yet.  The vessel had a 5hp Mercury engine and a vessel HIN.

After I received Operator's statement (attached), I gave him my contact information and advised to tell Subject3 to contact me as soon as possible to obtain a witness statement.  As I was leaving, Subject1 was arriving home.  I was advised that both juveniles were released from the hospital with no significant injuries.  I will be following up with Subject3 at a later date to obtain a witness statement.

All events occurred in Wicomico County, Maryland.

Rose Street Boat Ramp/Johnson 
Salisbury                     