This report documents a multi vessel personal injury watercraft accident that occurred on the Kankakee River near Cobb Park on 6/20/23 at approximately 5:59 P.M. 

     On 6/20/23 at approximately 18:30 I, CPO 1, responded to a personal injury watercraft accident that occurred on the Kankakee River near Cobb Park in Kankakee, IL.  V1 Operator was operating a 2021 Sun Tracker Pontoon (Vessel 1) while pulling three tubers, traveling Westbound parallel to the starboard side of a watercraft operated by V2 Operator (Vessel 2).  
 
   V1 Operator passed V2 Operator's watercraft, swung his watercraft out and circled back left (Eastbound) in an attempt to change directions and head back up river. V1 Operator was utilizing a spotter (V1 Passenger 1) while he was pulling three juvenile tubers who were wearing life jackets.  V1 Operator stated that "I was pullling an inner tube behind the boat with my grandkids on it.  My daughter was in the boat spotting.  I made a "u" turn heading up river and couldn''t pull out of the turn before striking the other boat on its right side, front.  I struck it (mine) on the Right front, it was too late to stop the boat" (V1 Operator statement attached).  At this time he collided with the bow/starboard side of a 2006 Mastercraft operated by V2 Operator.  After impact the three tubers being towed behind the pontoon collided with the starboard side of the Mastercraft.
 
     V2 Operator stated that they were wake surfing on her Mastercraft traveling Westbound at approximately 10 MPH.  She stated that the Pontoon traveling parallel to her watercraft got close to the starboard side of her watercraft.  At this time, the occupants of her watercraft yelled and put their hands in the air.  V2 Operator stated that the pontoon then circled around going approximately 25 mph pulling a tube with three little children.  She stated that at this time, the pontoon was coming straight towards her watercraft.  V2 Operator advised that she attempted to honk her horn to alert the pontoon operator, while the occupants of her watercraft were waving their hands in an additional attempt to alert the pontoon operator.  Right before the pontoon impacted her vessel, V2 Operator advised that four passengers, including a two year old (wearing a life jacket) abandoned the watercraft right before impact.  Two of the watercraft occupants stayed on the watercraft during the impact and were uninjured.  All of the occupants on V2 Operator's watercraft were uninjured.     
 
     V1 Passenger 1 stated that after the collision V2 Operator swam over to their vessel to confront V1 Operator, but was unable to deploy the pontoon ladder.  Vessel one sustained significant damage to the front/starboard side of the watercraft (photos attached), but was still operational.  Vessel two also sustained damage to the bow/starboard side of the watercraft (photos attached) and was also operational.  Illinois State Police TPR. 2 and SGT. 3 initially responded to the scene and collected information from the operators of both vessels.  During a field interview V1 Operator admitted fault and accepted responsibility for the watercraft accident. The watercraft owners/operators later exchanged insurance information.  One juvenile from vessel one was transported to Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, IL were he was treated and released. The juvenile was treated for an open fracture of the nasal bone and a laceration to his nose.
 
     On 6/22/23 an additional written statement was obtained from V2 Passenger 1, one of the occupants of vessel two (V2 Passenger 1 statement attached). 
 
     On 6/22/23 V1 Operator was issued a written warning for careless operation of a watercraft. 
 
     End of report.
Kankakee River
Kankakee                      