On July 1st, 2023, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission along with Longboat PD, Manatee County Sheriffs Office, and Coast Guard aviation, responded to a single vessel crash which capsized ejecting all occupants from the vessel near channel marker 24 in Sarasota Bay. Two of the occupants were transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with minor injuries and were released later that day.

PRECRASH:
Vessel 1 was traveling southbound in the ICW near channel marker 24 behind an unknown yacht reportedly producing a large wake also traveling southbound in the ICW. 

CRASH: 
Vessel 1 attempted to overtake the yacht on the port side. Vessel 1 struck the wake of the yacht causing vessel 1 to become air born. Vessel 1 capsized ejecting all onboard occupants into the water. 

POST-CRASH:
The occupants of vessel 1 were picked up out of the water by a Good Samaritan. Two of vessel 1’s occupants were transported to the hospital for minor injuries. 

INTERVIEWS:

Interview of Subject1: 

During my interview of Subject1 on July 2nd, 2023, she subsequently advised she took command of vessel 1 while the main captain, Subject2, used the on-board bathroom. When Subject2 returned from the restroom, he instructed Subject1 to veer left to pass the yacht in front of them. 

Subject1 advised that while passing the yacht, vessel 1 rolled over the wake of the yacht causing vessel 1 to list to the starboard side. Subject1 advised that Subject2 reached over her and pulled back on the vessels throttle in an attempt to slow down vessel 1. 

Vessel 1 continued to list to the starboard side until vessel 1 capsized resulting in all occupants in the water under vessel 1. Subject1 advised that Subject2 set vessel 1 speed at 20 mph prior to telling her to steer the vessel. Subject1 also stated in her written statement that she was under Subject2’s commands the entire time she was operating vessel 1.  

Interview of Operator / Owner of vessel 1 Subject2:

During my interview (s) of Subject2, he subsequently advised that they were heading back towards Sara Bay Marina and that vessel 1 flipped over. Subject2 advised that he swam to the surface.  
It should be noted that it appeared difficult for Subject2 to recall what happened due to the stressful situation. 
I received a completed sworn written statement from Subject2 which can be found attached to this report.
	 
INJURIES: 
One person received a laceration to the right eye along with bruising. He also advised of jaw joint pain to the right side of his jaw. 

Another person received a minor laceration to her left leg and was possibly in shock at the time of the incident.


CONCLUSION: 
It was determined that vessel 1 was capsized while attempting to overtake an unknown vessels wake causing vessel 1 to capsize, thereby ejecting all occupants onboard into the water. It was also determined that Subject2 was in command of vessel 1 due to the fact that he was giving commands to Subject1 while she was steering the vessel. Subject2 also attempted to slow down the vessel by reaching over Subject1 to pull back on the vessels throttle. 

Sarasota Bay
LONGBOAT KEY                  