A recovery mission is underway for a missing man on the South River, after a collision between two boats just off Turkey Point.
Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) say just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, a 43-foot powerboat collided with a jon boat. There were two people on each boat. No one was injured on the 43-foot Riva, and its occupants called 911. Both people on the jon boat went into the water. A 65-year-old man was unaccounted for, while the other person suffered minor injuries.
Anne Arundel County Fire, the Annapolis Fire Department, Maryland Natural Resources Police and Maryland State Police all responded with a surface search and dive operations for the missing boater.
After about 70 minutes, the search transitioned from a rescue to a recovery effort, with marine units and divers continuing operations into Tuesday afternoon.
NRP tells Bay Bulletin at the scene that the Riva hit the jon boat. “There are lots of reasons why boats crash. Our investigators will figure that out,” says  NRP Capt. Brian Rathgeb.
According to NRP, the other boater on the jon boat reported that the missing man was not wearing a life jacket when he went into the water.
“A life jacket gives you a fighting chance,” says Capt. Rathgeb.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
