A newly obtained boating accident report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is shedding light on a crash involving two Putnam County Sheriff’s Office marine units following ‘Boater Skip Day’ in June.
According to the report, three Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies were injured June 5 after a training exercise on the St. Johns River went wrong, sending a patrol boat spinning out of control and ultimately crashing into a second vessel near Wilson Cove.
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What happened
According to the accident report, deputies were returning to Palatka after patrolling Boater Skip Day when they began conducting training exercises involving tactical vessel approaches and wake crossings.
One deputy was operating a 21-foot patrol vessel — identified as Marine 3 — heading north on the river. Another deputy was ahead of him, operating a 22-foot NauticStar patrol vessel, Marine 2, with a third deputy aboard as an occupant.
As Marine 3 crossed Marine 2’s wake to approach from the port side, Marine 3’s operator overcorrected the steering and was thrown out of the vessel. According to the report, that deputy was not wearing a vessel kill switch at the time. His boat began spinning under power in a clockwise direction, unmanned.
Runaway boat, disabled engine set stage for collision
Marine 2’s crew pulled the deputy out of the water. Knowing the driverless boat posed a danger to the public, deputies attempted to shoulder the spinning vessel to bring it under control — but the boat’s rotation speed made that impossible, according to the report.
A good Samaritan vessel brought a fourth deputy to the scene, and he boarded Marine 2. He tried to use a rope to foul the propeller of the runaway boat to kill the engine. Instead, the rope became entangled in Marine 2’s engine, disabling it entirely.
Now adrift, Marine 2 drifted directly into the path of the still-spinning Marine 3, which struck Marine 2 on the port side near the stern, ramped over it and became lodged on top.
It appears this is how the incident ended, based on the information provided in the report.
Good Samaritan vessels on the scene helped retrieve the deputies from the water and transported them to shore.
Deputies injured, good Samaritans respond
Upon impact, the responding deputy and Marine 2’s operator jumped from Marine 2. The deputy who had just been pulled from the water ducked between the console and seat. Another deputy riding in Marine 2 lost her footing and struck the side of the vessel, cutting her left ear.
All three injured deputies were treated at a medical facility. According to the FWC report, the deputy with the injured ear received three stitches. The responding fourth deputy sustained an injury to his left knee, though the specific nature of that injury was listed as unknown at the time of the report. The deputy operating Marine 2 sustained contusions to his left pelvis.
Vessels heavily damaged
The crash caused an estimated $55,000 in combined damage to the two patrol vessels, both of which are self-insured through the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Marine 3 sustained gouges and paint transfer to the port side, starboard side and bow. The lower unit of the engine was scratched and gouged at the gear case and skeg. Total estimated damage: $15,000.
Marine 2 suffered deep gouges and fiberglass spalling on the port side near the stern, and its T-top and leaning post were bent from the impact. Total estimated damage: $40,000.
Citation issued
FWC investigators determined the deputy driving Marine 3 had been operating at an unsafe speed for the maneuvers he was attempting, which caused him to be ejected. He was issued a citation for careless operation of a vessel.
The report notes that the subsequent collision between the vessels occurred while deputies were acting within the scope of their duties in attempting to stop the runaway boat from endangering the public.
News4JAX reached out to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for comment after obtaining the FWC report Tuesday afternoon. This story will be updated when we receive a response.