This is a summary of the information Officer and Officer2 gathered concerning this accident which occurred on november 3, 2013 at approximately 12:00pm.  A witness traveling across the albemarle sound bridge reported seeing a man fall off the bow of his boat splashing in the water with his dog still on board looking down at him.  Officer and Officer2 arrived on scene and observed the reported boat anchored on the east side of the albemarle sound bridge and made contact with a local fisherman who had located a pair of boots floating in the water near the bridge.  The fisherman reported finding the victim's vessel drifting with the wind, engine running, and a dog on board.  The fisherman boarded the vessel, anchored it in place and secured the dog.  Officers secured two muck boots and the location of the floating boots from the fisherman.  Officers went to the victim's boat and conducted a quick inspection of its contents for information leading to the cause of the accident and found the gps to be on and recording its location.  

Officer notified the washington county emergency management who was coordinating the search of the gps locations fount on the victim's gps.  Nc marine fisheries, chowan sheriffs office, and a uscg helicopter and boat assisted in a thorough search of the area for the victim.  After concluding the search and conducting an inspection of the propellers of the victim's vessel by divers, the officers moved the boat back to edenton marina for a more thorough safety inspection of the vessel.  Subject approached Officer2 to report he made contact with the victim earlier that morning to see if any fish were being caught.  The victim reported no fish had been caught.  About 30 minutes later Subject reported trying to make contact with the victim again by marine radio and cell phone and had gotten no response.  Subject stated he noticed flashing lights on the bridge and a sherriffs boat heading toward the bridge with emergency lights on.  Subject then operated his vessel over to find out what was going on and learned the victim had fallen overboard and immediately started assisting in the search for the victim.  Victim was recovered by divers november 4, 2013 on the east side of the albemarle sound bridge.  Victim was found fully clothed and missing his boots.  No alcohol or drugs were found to have contributed to this accident.  The victim's vessel was properly equipped with all the required safety equipment.  However, a personal flotation device was not worn by the victim.
EDENTON