On 08/08/2023, at approximately 3:39 pm, I, Ofc., with Maryland Natural Resources Police, received a call from DNR communications for an injured subject that was at Garrett Regional Medical Center (Hospital) involved in a boating accident. 

I arrived at the hospital at approximately 4:10 pm. 

Victim and his family had rented a pontoon boat, Maryland registration, from The Aquatic Center on Deep Creek Lake. They were attempting to dock the vessel at their rental dock, at the pinnacle docks near Glendale Bridge. 

Victim was standing on the left side of the bow of the boat as it was entering the dock. Victim stepped off of the vessel with one foot onto the dock, when a rogue wake came and pushed the vessel and dock up, causing him to slip. 

Victim was holding onto the top rail of the vessel with both of his hands. He fell into the water, and hit his right side/ribs on the gunnel of the vessel. 

The other passengers immediately grabbed him and pulled him up out of the water. Five other passengers/family members  were on the vessel at the time of the incident. The driver of the vessel was Victim's son. None of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident. The boat's motor was off and trimmed all the way up. The boat was drifting into the dock when the incident occurred. Victim was taken to the hospital by his wife. The water conditions were very rough, and the wind was blowing approximately 15 mph, from the west. 

On 08/09/2023, I met with Victim and the other passengers at their rental house, where I was able to properly identify and interview them. Victim had sustained three broken ribs on this right side. Victim's son walked with me down to their dock slip, where I was able to gather the vessel information. 

Pictures were taken of their ID's, the dock, and the vessel. 

All are attached to this report.

All events occurred in Garrett County, Maryland.

Deep Creek Lake
Swanton                       