The clip is the kind that makes you stop scrolling long enough to figure out what’s happening.
A boat comes streaking across the screen, narrowly missing one Washington state ferry before careening toward another one.
That’s when a worker aboard the first ferry solves the mystery.
“Captain, he is passed out behind the wheel,” the deckhand reports over the radio.
The camera zooms in closer, tracking the boat as it curves gracefully toward the second ferry, seemingly missing it by mere feet before plowing into a stone causeway.
The clip serves as a sobering reminder of why alcohol and boating never mix.
The incident occurred Friday evening, May 1, near the ferry dock in Steilacoom, Wash. The 21-year-old operator was the only person on board and appeared to be unconscious in the speeding vessel, according to witnesses.
The video of the crash, posted on the Pierce County Ferry Discussion Group on Facebook, shows a fast-moving boat turning erratically with a seemingly unconscious driver behind the wheel. The video shows a vessel narrowly avoiding a collision with a moving ferry before turning and nearly crashing into another ferry.
The boat then slams into the rocky causeway, ejecting the boat operator into the water. The cold Pacific Northwest water apparently woke him with a start. He can be seen swimming to shore and struggling on the rocks, where Pierce County police later apprehended him.
The man was transported to the emergency room with non-life-threatening injuries. He was later taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. While a toxicology report is still pending, all signs point to alcohol being the cause of this reckless incident.
“Alcohol bottles could be seen littered throughout the boat,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Carly Cappetto said in a video posted on the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. “There was reasonable suspicion for BUI,” she deadpans.
BUI laws exist in all 50 states and come with severe penalties. “This boating accident serves as a good reminder not to boat under the influence, and it has the same consequences as a DUI would have driving a vehicle,” Cappetto said in the video.
BUI laws apply to all water vessels, including motorized vessels, sailboats, jet skis, kayaks, and canoes. Operating a water vessel requires quick judgment and unimpaired motor function. Furthermore, factors like sun exposure and dehydration on the water can intensify alcohol’s side effects.
Therefore, navigating waters with alcohol in your system is always a bad decision that can put your life and the life of others in dange, as the video clearly illustrates.
While there were no fatalities in this incident, alcohol continues to be a major cause of boating fatalities. According to the Coast Guard’s most recent Recreational Boating Statistics Report, from 2024.
“Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2024, accounting for 92 deaths, or 20% of total fatalities,” the report states.
As spring boating season ramps up, let this video remind you of the importance of staying sober while navigating on the water.
