On the above listed date, I was dispatched to River Road located in the Egg Harbor City section of Atlantic County in reference to a vessel crash. NJSP Communications advised that a Personal Water Craft (PWC) was struck by another vessel earlier in the day and that they were now reporting the incident. I was additionally advised that there were no reported injuries at this time. Upon my arrival, I made contact with the owner of V2. 

Subject stated that his son and two friends were driving his 2021 Sea doo GTX 300 in the Mullica River. He advised that they approached a bend when they observed a vessel cruising at a high rate of speed on a course directly bow to bow. Subject further stated that his son attempted to stop the PWC in order to avoid a collision with the vessel. The vessel then struck the Stern Port Side of the PWC. The PWC later sank, and was later salvaged and towed by Boat US to the River Road Boat Ramp. Subject advised that no one was injured as a result of the crash.

I then made contact with the owner and driver of vessel #1. Operator1 stated that he was cruising in the Mullica River when he approached the tip of a bend. He stated that at the same time V2 was approaching the tip of the bend cruising in the opposite direction. Operator1 stated that the PWC did not change course and that it stopped dead in the water. Operator1 stated that he turned his vessel to the starboard side in order to avoid a collision. Upon turning his vessel he then turned back to the port side due to the fact he was approaching the marsh and struck the stern port side of V2 with the Stern Port side of his vessel. Operator1 stated that there were no reported injuries to anyone on the vessel. Additionally, he reported no damage to his vessel.

Investigation revealed that Vl was cruising east on the Mullica River approaching a bend near the River Road Clam House. Simultaneously, V2 was cruising west on the Mullica River approaching the same bend as Vl. Both vessels approached each other head-on when V2 came to a stop in the water. 

Vl initially steered to the starboard side in order to avoid a collision with V2. Vl then steered to the port side in order to avoid crashing into the marsh as the bend was narrow. Subsequently, Vl struck the stern port side of V2 with its stern port side. 

As a result V2 sustained significant damage to the hull on the port side causing the PWC to sink. All three persons on board were taken aboard Vl and had sustained no injuries at the time of the report. Vl can be described as a 1999 20 foot Chaparral white in color. The vessel sustained no damage and there were no reported injuries at the time of the report. V2 can be described as a 2021 12 foot Sea doo GTX 300 Limited silver in color. The PWC sustained significant damage to the stern port side of the PWC resulting in total loss. No injuries were reported at the time of the report.

MULLICA RIVER
EGG HARBOR CITY               