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Jenifer Rousseau, 23, of Marco Island

Cpl. Kevin Hennings

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MARCO ISLAND — Marco Island Police Officer Cpl. Kevin Hennings, 35, and a young Marco woman nearly lost their lives in a Sept. 21 jet ski accident near Keewaydin Island. Investigators now believe they know the cause of the accident.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigated and according to a report released Wednesday afternoon, officials found Hennings was driving at excessive speeds through a slow speed manatee zone near Cannon Island and was charged with careless operation of the jet ski.

“The charge comes with a $90 fine and puts (Hennings) at fault for causing the accident,” said FWC Investigator Art Matson.

Matson added that an appropriate speed through the slow speed manatee zone would be about five miles per hour and the extent of the injuries suffered after the jet ski ran into the mangroves did not signify low speeds.

Hennings suffered a fractured eye socket, broken jaw, fractured nose and less severe injuries to his neck, chest, arms and shins. Passenger Jenifer Rousseau, 23, of Marco Island, suffered from a head injury causing memory and motor skill loss. Damage to the jet ski, which was borrowed from Henning’s friend Steve Gober, was estimated to be $2,000, according to FWC investigative reports.

“I can’t place the exact speed but that doesn’t happen at 5 mph,” Matson said of the injuries and damage.

Hennings said that the accident was caused by Rousseau getting tangled in the handle bars when he tried to prevent her from falling off the jet ski. He said her life jacket was too large and got caught on the right side of the handlebars causing the jet ski to accelerate and lose control.

An investigation photo reveals a broken lever on the right side of the jet ski, which likely occurred during the accident. Matson said there was no mechanical malfunction of the jet ski.

Rousseau’s mother Allison Evens said she believes Henning’s account of her daughter getting caught on the handlebars is unlikely, particularly because the jet ski ran straight into the mangroves rather than losing control toward the right.

However, it is feasible and without any witnesses or Rousseau’s memory of the event, investigators have little to go on, Matson said

“Either way it doesn’t relieve him from responsibility ... That’s like my kid grabbing the steering wheel and running into a grocery store when I’m driving ... The driver is still responsible,” he added.

Investigators found that alcohol did not contribute to the accident. Although Rousseau told reporters in September that she did have a couple beers that day, she was not the driver.

Hennings maintained he did not have one beer that Sunday afternoon. The report does not include the blood alcohol levels of the driver or the passenger.

“Officers did not smell alcohol and there were no beer cans around the accident scene,” Matson said.

Evens said she was present when blood tests revealed that her daughter’s BAC was .02, which is lower than the legal limit for intoxication.

Matson said the tests were performed by the hospital and FWC did not have probable cause to subpoena those results.

The report reveals that Hennings was driving with Rousseau on back, both were wearing safety jackets and according to witnesses about a half hour before the accident they were doing “donuts” in the water with friend Jason Berning in the Cannon Island area.

Berning headed back to Keewaydin and didn’t notice that Hennings was not following. After 30 to 45 minutes he went out to find Hennings. It took at least an hour to find the two because they were hidden by the mangroves.

Hennings said he is eager to return to work at the Marco Island Police Department where he has worked for about eight years and recently vied for the position of police chief, which went to Thom Carr.

Carr did not respond to phone calls to comment on whether the results of the accident report would have any bearing on Hennings’ police career, but Hennings said that he did not think so.

Hennings has three more surgeries planned on his jaw which was wired shut for several weeks. Rousseau has returned to work as a pharmacy technician at the Marco Walgreens on Collier Boulevard, but is limited to part time due to her injuries, which continue to affect Rousseau’s memory and motor skills, according to her mom, Evens.

Rousseau did not return phone calls from the Eagle.