On July 30, 2023 at approximately 11:26 AM V1 collided with a dock in the Santa Rosa. After the collision V1 not only left the scene, but also failed to report the accident to law enforcement. Operator of V1 was located and charged accordingly. Total damages estimated to be at or over $3,000.00. No injuries reported.
Once in the vicinity of Crab Island, we began looking for the subject vessel. I noticed a vessel matching the subject vessel’s description that was docked at the Destin Marina. Once we got closer to the vessel I ran the registration numbers attached, which returned to a 2023 38’ Fountain center console registered as (V1). There were two older males standing on the dock beside the vessel that matched the two male subjects in the photographs. I docked our patrol boat and went to speak with the two individuals and asked them if they knew why I was there. One of the subjects stated no at first and then stated that they did hit a pier earlier. I identified the two male subjects as OP1 and PAX 1. I told the subjects that it’s best to be honest with me up front and asked them what happened. OP1 stated that he was operating the vessel and at the time believed it to be in neutral. OP1 and PAX 1 stated that they had their heads down in the Garmin chart plotter and other electronics on board the vessel. OP1 stated that suddenly, they collided with the dock. OP1 stated that he reversed off the dock and continued towards the Brooks Bridge. I asked OP1 why he didn’t report the accident and why he left the scene of the accident. OP1 shook his head in disappointment and stated that he was upset over damaging his vessel and just wasn’t thinking. I obtained sworn written statements from OP1 and PAX 1 that stated the following:
     OP1’s statement was scribed by PAX 1 due to OP1 stating that he shakes badly when he writes.
     “Looked down at charts. Did not realize that we were that close to shore started trying to get boat in reverse did not realize that we had damage dock.”
     PAX 1’s statement is as follows:
     “Looked at charts not realizing we were head to shore. Started trying to reverse boat when we realized we was about to hit dock.”
     V1 has top of the line GPS and navigational equipment installed on board. I asked OP1 if he would mind if I looked at his GPS tracks from his trip over here and OP1 gave consent for me to look. I went to the area of the incident on the chart plotter, and it shows V1's tracks coming out of the channel heading right for the dock. The chart plotter onboard V1 gave a date and time at which the vessel was at that specific position, and it indicated a date of July 30, 2023, and a time of 11:26AM. The call was marked received from dispatch at 11:44AM
     I observed multiple marks on the bow of V1 that would coincide with it running into a wooden dock. There were wood chips on the bow of V1 that looked to have been broken off a dock. The rub rails at the bow of V1 had wood transfer marks on both port and starboard sides. There were scratches on the port and starboard side of the hull, certain scratches had wood splintered into the scratch. Photographs of the damage to V1 were obtained.

Santa Rosa Sound
FT. WALTON BEACH              