On 4/8/23 at approximately 1900 hours, a single vessel accident occurred in Tampa Bay just East of Coquina Key. The vessel, a 20' Carolina Skiff, overturned after striking bottom. The vessel's occupants were all ejected resulting in one subject requiring treatment at a nearby emergency room.
Further information was limited as an unidentified good Samaritan vessel had picked up some of the individuals involved and left the scene. United States Coast Guard (USCG) had picked up some others, one with injuries. USCG then transported the subjects to shore (without identifying the subjects or recording the involved vessel's registration numbers) where the subjects then left by ambulance. USCG was only able to later provide three pictures from the scene which are attached to this report.

Without further information I responded to the Bayfront Hospital Emergency Room and inquired if any subjects had arrived that may have possibly been involved in a boating accident. Based on only this, the ER staff brought me to a subject 

VICTIM stated that she had been onboard the vessel involved in the accident as a passenger while returning from Egmont Key. Along with her was her boyfriend and other subjects that she did not know. She further stated that she thought that the vessel had hit either bottom or something in the water and flipped, throwing everyone out. She had been injured while being ejected by hitting some part of the vessel. Victim's injuries were facial contusions, and a deep laceration to her upper left arm.

Outside of the ER by the parking lot I found Victim's boyfriend . I interviewed him and he stated that they had arrived to Egmont Key earlier in the day onboard another vessel and were returning to Tampa onboard the vessel involved in the accident. They stated that he only knew the operator as "OP1" and could not identify him. He further stated that OP1 had been operating the vessel when it struck something underwater, causing it to flip. They stated that he had no way to contact or identify OP1 or any other subject on that had been on the vessel.

The vessel (later identified as a 1995 20' Carolina Skiff registration# ), was located several days later by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department (PCSO) in Tampa Bay. PCSO marine units had received information about an overturned, adrift vessel. When PCSO arrived at the scene the vessel (matching the description of the vessel involved in this incident) was being recovered by Towboat US. PCSO was able to provide the vessel's registration number. The vessel was then later removed from the area.; Victim received facial contusions and a deep laceration to her upper left arm. The laceration will likely require stitches. The injuries occurred from impact with the vessel that she was a passenger on, as she was being ejected when the vessel flipped.
TAMPA BAY
ST. PETERSBURG                