Fatal Personal Watercraft Collision (PWC) near Middle River Saturday

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Natural Resources Police are investigating a fatal PWC collision that occurred around 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23 in Cowpen Creek near Middle River. John R. Gibson, 60, of Severna Park sustained fatal injuries when his PWC collided with a PWC operated by Richard C. McNerneu, 49, of Pikesville. Both were transported to Franklin Square Hospital where Gibson was pronounced dead; McNerneu was treated and released. An autopsy on Gibson’s will be conducted by the State Medical Examiner’s Office. An investigation is ongoing, as is standard with any fatal boating incident. Both operators were wearing personal floating devices (PFDs) and alcohol was not a factor.

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July 25, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov