On 8/1/11, at approximately 3:30pm a boating accident occurred on lake norman near the mouth of hagers creek in mooresville.  V1 was operating vessel 1 heading south on the main channel into hagers creek.  This vessel was borrowed from the owner.  V2 vas operating vessel 2 and was also traveling south before he returned the throttle to idle.  His father was the owner of vessel 2.  The sudden de-exceleration caused vessel 2 to rotate to a position facing west.  Vessel 1 was approaching at a high rate of speed and struck vessel 2 on the starboard side.

Initially both vessels were running parallel and traveling south on lake norman.  Vessel 2 was on the left and vessel 1 was on the right.  Vessel 2 crossed in front of vessel 1 and continued to travel another 50 yards or so before attempting to cross over again.  Vessel 2 crossed back in front of vessel 1, then saw a vessel ahead of him pulling two tubes.  Vessel 2 immediately slowed to idle speed and his vessel rotated to the right or starboard side.  Vessel 1 was traveling at a high rate of speed and tried to swerve to the left or port side.  Vessel 1's bow struck vessel 2 near the middle of the starboard side, then continued its path towards vessel 2's starboard stern.  The operator of vessel 1 was ejected from the vessel into the water.  Both operators were wearing type iii personal flotation devices.  Alcohol was not a factor, and no was injured in this accident.

The hood on the bow of vessel 1 was snapped off approximately 3-4 inches from the front hinge.  The rubber rub rail was separated from the vessel on the starboard bow.  There were scratch marks on the starboard side of the hull towards the bow.  The starbord side of vessel 2 had significant fiberglass damage from the center to the stern.  The rub rail was separated from the vessel in this same location.  The rear seat was ripped.  However, owner’s wife advised that this was old damage and not a result of this accident.

It was determined that vessel 1 was following too closely as defined in g.s. 75a-13.3(e)(5).  Following too closely is defined as "proceeding in the same direction and operating at a speed in excess of 10 miles per hour when approaching witnin 100 feet to the rear of 50 feet to the side of another vessel that is underway."  had the operator maintained this mandatory and safe distance, he would have been able to avoid the collision.  Also, vessel 2 was unreasonably and unnecessarily weaving through vessel traffic as described in g.s. 75a-13.3(1).  Crossing in front of vessel 1, then intentionally crossing back was unnecessary.  The fact that vessel 2 crossed back in front of vessel 1 then had to suddenly drop to idle speed, due to approaching the pontoon boat pulling the tubes, shows that he was not maintaining a proper lookout for other boating traffic.  He would have had more time to react had he maintained a proper lookout with a safe distance.  It was reckless to cross in front of one vessel while quickly approaching another vessel.

No criminal charges were made due to both operators being minors.  Both had proof of completing a boating safety class.

MOORESVILLE                   