On Monday, June 26th, 2023 at approximately 1235 hrs, I, Officer First Class with the Maryland Natural Resources Police, was dispatched to the docks on Deep Creek Lake at 21327 Garrett Hwy, Oakland, Garrett County, Maryland for a report of a vessel that struck a dock and left the scene.  I arrived at the location and a witness stated the vessel went north on the lake under the 219 bridge, and he had a picture of the vessel.  He sent me a picture by phone of the suspect vessel and stated they hit the dock on the left side of the vessel.   

At 1300 hrs, I located a vessel near the Dam of the lake matching the picture and saw white marks on the left side of the vessel.  I approached the vessel that had 5 persons onboard and asked the operator if they had hit a dock.  The operator did admit to hitting the dock but did not believe he caused much damage and that is why he left the scene.  While speaking to Operator about the incident, he stated that he was backing out of the dock slip and noticed kayakers coming around the docks and did not want to hit them.  He then proceeded to go forward and cut the wheel to turn, striking the dock while continuing his turn to exit the dock slip.  Operator stated that he will do whatever he needs to make this right.  He stated that I can give his phone number and information to the owner of the docks.  I issued one citation for (08.18.01.05(B)) Negligent operation of a vessel, before returning to the scene of the incident.

Once back at the scene of the accident around 1410 hrs, I met with the owner of the docks, and he gave me a written statement from his worker because he was out on a kayak with a group.  The statement matched Operator's statement of the event that occurred.  However, Operator did not mention if he heard or saw anybody waving at him to come back to the dock.  I observed the dock section was broken near the hinges of the main dock, causing the dock to block boats from entering the slip.  We secured the broken dock, so it would not cause further damage.  I provided owner with Operator's contact information.       

Witness statement and citation attached. 
Photos of damage attached.

All events occurred in Garrett County, Maryland.

Deep Creek Lake
Oakland                       