On july 28, 2013 at approximately 6:00pm, operator was operating his 25 foot hydra sport on the waters of the cape fear river.  Operator had 4 passengers on board, one of whom was a family friend.  According to operator, they were heading back to the dock from a trip out on the ocean.  As he was making his way through the inlet back into the cape fear river, he was overtaken by another vessel that was passing from his right side to his left.  Victim was seated on the elevated position and as such her feet were off the ground.  As operator went to cross over the wake that was produced by the other vessel, his vessel rolled to the left and victim fell off the leaning rest and onto operator.  When this happened, it caused operator to turn the wheel to the left causing the vessel to turn sharply, which sent victim over operator and into the water.  Operator then immediately regained control of the vessel and turned around and went and retrieved victim from the water.  He then went to south port where ems was called because victim was complaining of back pain.  She was taken to brunswick memorial hospital where it was found that she had cracked three ribs and also had a laceration to her spleen.  She was then taken to cape fear memorial hospital where she was treated and released.  It is the opinion of this investigator that the accident occurred as a result of the wake that was produced by the passing vessel coupled with the speed at which operator attempted to pass over it.  The speed was not excessive, but the wake was larger than operator realized, and as a result the vessels pitched hard to the port resulting in the fall overboard.  It appears that victim's injuries occurred from her striking the gunwale of the vessel as she was falling out of the vessel.  It does not appear that alcohol or drugs played any role in this accident.  The vessel was equipped with uscg approved life saving devices; they were not used in this incident.
SOUTHPORT