On June 3, 2023, I Sgt. of the Maryland Natural Resources Police was contacted by dispatch about a boat accident in the area of Broad Creek in the Pocomoke Sound. I was already underway on vessel 853 at Janes Island State Park. I immediately proceeded to the reported area of the incident. Prior to the entrance of Broad Creek on the Little Annemessex River side of Broad Creek, I observed a U.S. Coast Guard vessel with its blue lights on and two vessels close by. I approached the two vessels and noticed a Grady White vessel bearing Maryland registration at anchor. The second vessel was a white center console vessel bearing Maryland registration and was rafted off to the Grady White. At first glance, I did not observe any damage to the center console vessel. However, I did observe extensive damage to the Grady White vessel. The top of the gunwales on both sides of the stern area along with the top of the transom had been ripped off.

    I then made contact with both vessels and all occupants onboard. No one required any medical attention and no one reported any injuries. I obtained vessel registrations from both vessels and further surveyed the damage to the Grady White vessel. I asked the operator of the Grady White vessel if the vessel was capable of returning to the dock on its own power. Operator2 advised that it was. The operator of the center console vessel also advised that his vessel was capable of returning to the dock. At that time, I instructed both operators to proceed to Somers Cove Marina boat ramp.

Once all vessels were safely secured at the ramp, I further surveyed the damage to both vessels. I asked all parties about the circumstances that led to the collision. Both operators stated that both vessels were traveling in the direction of the mouth of Broad Creek from the Little Annemessex River. The Grady White vessel was cruising at a slower speed and the center console vessel was overtaking it. While the center console vessel was overtaking the Grady White, the center console vessel got caught in the wake of the Grady White and operator1 was thrown off balance and lost control of the vessel. At that time, the center console vessel abruptly changed course to starboard(right) and hit the Grady White vessel on it's port(left) side just behind the cockpit. Because of the high rate of speed of the center console vessel, it ran up and over the port side of the vessel and continued across the back of the vessel and exited over the starboard side of the vessel. Damage to both vessels was consistent with both operator's explanation of the accident. 

Operator2 advised that Operator1 told him to get a quote from Evans Boats and let him know of the damages. Operator2 said he planned to get a quote early the next week. 

Based on the accounts of the accident from both operators and the damage that I observed on both vessels, Operator1 was issued two citations for the following:

08.18.01.04(A) - failure to obey navigation rules - rules of the road
08.18.01.04(B) - unsafe speed for conditions - rules of the road

All events occurred in Somerset County, MD

Tangier Sound-Little Annemesse
Crisfield                     