On March 26, 2023, at approximately 6:00 pm, I responded to a boating accident involving two PWCs. The accident occurred on Lake Arianna near the city park in Auburndale. There were no injuries reported.
 At approximately 6:40 pm, I interviewed OP1, who was the operator of Vessel #1 along with PAX 1, who is the owner of the PWC, PAX 1 was a passenger on board at the time of the accident. Due to a language barrier, an interpreter assisted with taking a written statement. I was advised that OP1 and PAX 1 were headed from the middle of the lake en route to their gazebo located on the lake shore. As they approached the shore, OP1 was decelerating when Vessel # 2 collided with them. They advised that they were ejected from the PWC and that the operator of Vessel #2 stopped to check on them and then left. They advised that someone else helped them back to their PWC. Later OP1 advised that he didn’t see Vessel #2 prior to the collision.
 At approximately 7:00 pm, I interviewed OP2, who was the operator of Vessel #2. Due to a language barrier, interpreters assisted with taking a written statement. I was advised that OP2 was headed toward the beach when he observed Vessel #2 approaching him at a high speed. OP2 advised that he reduced throttle and was unable to avoid the collision.
 I inspected Vessel #1 and observed damage on the starboard side to include a broken sponson near the stern and multiple cracks in the hull with white gel coat transfer near the bow.
 I inspected Vessel #2 and observed only minor black gel coat transfer on the port side near the bow.
 I issued the operator of Vessel #1 a citation for violation of navigation rules and the violation does not constitute reckless operation of a vessel. Based on information gathered from interviews it appeared that OP1 was in violation of navigation rule #5 regarding proper look-out.
 I issued the operator of Vessel #2 a citation for violation of navigation rules and the violation does not constitute reckless operation of a vessel. Based on information gathered from interviews it appeared that OP2 was in violation of navigation rule #8 regarding action to avoid collision.

Lake Ariana
AUBURNDALE                    