On June 25, 2023 at 4:20 PM I, Officer First Class received a report of a boating accident on the Potomac River in the area of Colonial Beach, VA (GPS coordinates 38.22762, -76.95055). The call came in from Virginia Marine Police and they advised that the accident occurred at approximately 1:45 PM.
        
        I spoke with Officer of Virginia Marine Police on the phone, and he described the accident. Officer advised a group of people were taking turns riding on a jet ski, later determined to be owned & operated by Operator. The group was on a boat and jumping into the water to get onto the jet ski. The boat was anchored at the time and was also being operated by Operator. 

The victim was on the boat when she jumped off the bow into the Potomac River to swim to the jet ski. When Victim made it to the jet ski, she dove under it and her hair got sucked into intake grate of the jet ski. The operator realized something was wrong by the sound of the engine and immediately turned the engine off. When Operator noticed that Victim didn’t resurface, he rolled the jet ski over where he found Victim stuck to the intake grate and was able to get her head out of the water. Operator was assisted by unknown good Samaritans and in the process of rolling the jet ski over her hair was ripped and cut from her scalp, causing a wound to her head. 

Colonial Beach EMS units responded and transported Victim to the shoreline. Victim was transported to Mary Washington hospital by Westmoreland County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries. None of the operators were intoxicated, and PFDs were present on both vessels. The details of this incident were confirmed by Victim’s father as well as the operator of the jet ski. Operator received a Maryland temporary boater’s safety certificate online through “Ilearntoboat” on June 6th, 2023.

        The Jet Ski is a 2007 Bombardier Canada GTI237A bearing Maryland registration and a hull identification number. This vessel is registered to Operator. 

        All events occurred in Charles County, MD

Potomac R-cobb Island-North-Po
Colonial Beach, VA            