OCEAN CITY — One man was severely injured and another faces charges of operating a boat under the influence of alcohol this week after an accident in the Assawoman Bay on Saturday when victim was struck by the vessel’s propeller and had to be airlifted to PRMC.
On Saturday evening, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) received a call of a reported boating accident involving an unidentified victim being struck with a boat propeller. NRP crews arrived at the scene in the Assawoman Bay near 94th Street and transported the victim by boat to waiting Ocean City Fire Department EMS at 94th Street. The victim was then transported by Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 4 to PRMC in Salisbury.
The investigation revealed the victim was being pulled behind the vessel on an inner tube when he fell off. The boat circled back around to pick up the victim and he was struck by the vessel’s propeller as he attempted to get back into the boat, according to NRP Public Information Officer Sgt. Brian Albert. Albert said the victim, whose name was not available, received severe wounds on both legs.
“He had a laceration on his left leg and another several lacerations on his right leg near his calf,” he said. “The injuries were not life-threatening, but they were pretty serious.”
Albert said the operator of the vessel, identified as Joseph Stedman, 23, of North Potomac, Md., was found to be under the influence of alcohol. He has been charged by the NRP with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol.