At or around 12:15pm on june 17, 2012, vessel one was traveling south in the icw approximately one mile north of sea gate marina.  While cruising at just over 20 mph, victim was riding on the bow of vessel one.  She had the bow rail between her legs with her legs hanging over.  When operator came through the slight turns, he saw two large sport fishing boats coming towards him throwing large wakes. Operator reduced speed and attempted to cross the wakes on the right side of the creek.  While crossing the second wake, the bow of the boat dropped rapidly leaving victim in the air.  She immediately fell back down landing in the position she was seated earlier.  The impact from the fall damaged the vertebrae in victim's back.  Ems was notified and victim was taken to sea gate marina where she was then transported to carteret general hospital.

The name on the back of the first sport fishing boat was "honey hush" out of hatteras, nc and the name of the second sport fish boat as unknown.  I contacted the owner of "honey hush" who advised me that he was unaware of this situation.  With the two larger vessels traveling together, it is unclear for sure which wake vessel one was crossing when this incident occurred.

Based on my investigation, i would conclude that the injury sustained in this boating accident would have been avoided if victim had not been bow riding.  The operator and other passenger of vessel one were not affected by the wake due to positioning in the boat.

BEAUFORT                      