A motorboat operator without a license fled after colliding head-on with a jet ski on the Moselle River near Scy-Chazelles, leaving the rider in the water and facing multiple charges before the Metz Judicial Court.

On Saturday, 23 August, a severe boating accident occurred on the Moselle River, near Île aux Papillons, in the municipality of Scy-Chazelles.  A serious head-on collision between a motorboat and a jet ski on the Moselle River caused significant damage, prompting a rapid intervention by the Metz River Police Brigade.

Authorities reported that three jet skis were travelling in single file through a regulated navigation zone when the accident occurred. A motorboat, moving in the opposite direction, struck the last jet ski in the group with significant force.

The jet ski rider was thrown into the water just moments before the crash, which spared his life. His jet ski, however, was split in two by the sheer force of the collision. By the time river police officers arrived, the boat operator had already fled, abandoning the victim to fend for himself in the river.

Following a swift investigation, authorities identified and intercepted the boat’s owner, who was immediately taken into custody. During questioning, the man took responsibility for the crash, acknowledged that he had deliberately fled the scene, and further revealed that he did not hold the mandatory license to operate a motorboat. In addition, his motorboat was neither registered nor compliant with current regulations.

The defendant has been summoned before the Metz Judicial Court to face multiple charges: hit-and-run after a maritime accident, operating without a navigation license, and failure to provide proof of vessel registration. The River Police Brigade, actively deployed in the area, continues to step up patrols and inspections to prevent such accidents and penalize reckless behaviour.