I, OFFICER 1 AND OFFICER 2 RECEIVED A CALL ON 7/28/2023, CONCERNING A BOAT INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE NEAR HOLDEN BEACH.  WHEN WE ARRIVED ON SCENE, WE WERE MET BY OFFICER 3 AND THE TWO OPERATORS.  

THE TWO VESSELS WERE PWCS AND RENTED FROM HOLDEN BEACH WATER SPORTS.  VESSEL ONE WAS STRUCK BY VESSEL 2.  VESSEL ONE WAS TRAVELING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ICW HEADING SOUTH OF THE HOLLDEN BEACH BRIDGE.  VESSEL 1 STATED THAT THEY WERE LEAVING THE GROUP BY MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THEY WERE STRUCK BY VESSEL 2.  VESSEL 2 STTED THAT SHE WAS TRAVELING A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY AND GOING 10-20 MPH.  VESSEL 2 CONTINUED TO STATE THAT VESSEL 1 MADE A LEFT TURN BEFORE LOOKING.  AT THAT TIME, VESSEL 2 STRUCK THE PORT SIDE OF THE STERN OF VESSEL 1.  THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 1 WAS EJECTED OFF THE PWC DUE TO THE IMPACT FROM VESSEL 2.  DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE REAR PORT SIDE OF VESSEL 1 DOCUMENTED AS A TOTAL LOSS.  VESSEL 2 HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL TO INCLUDE A MISSING BOW LINE EYE.  BOTH VESSELS WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE PROPER LIFE SAVING DEVICE, AND ALCOHOL AND DRUGS DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCIDENT.

IN MY OPINION, VESSEL 2 WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNSAFE DISTANCE WHEN THEY STRUCK VESSEL 1.  VESSEL 1 ALSO FAILED TO MAINTAIN A PROPER LOOKOUT WHILE MAKING THE LEFT TURN.

***PLEASE NOTE:  THIS REPORT WAS MANUALLY ENTERED INTO BARD DUE TO CONTINUED TRANSMISSION ISSUES BETWEEN REPORT BEAM AND BARD. ***

****BARD, PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THIS REPORT****


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ICW
HOLDEN BEACH                  