I WAS NOTIFIED OF A BOAT ACCIDENT INVOLVING A BOAT BURNING AT TUCKERTOWN LAKE NEAR THE BADIN LAKE DAM BY OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTER.  I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AT 00:30 HOURS.  MEMBERS OF THE STANLY COUNTY SHERRIF'S OFFICE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND RESCUE SQUAD WERE ALREADY ON THE SCENE.

MY INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF A 1970 SPORTCRAFT MOTORBOAT TOOK FIVE COMPANIONS ON A FISHING TRIP TO TUCKERTOWN LAKE.  THEY LOADED THE BOAT WITH EQUIPMENT AND PEOPLE, AND PROCEEDED TO A SPOT ON THE BANK NEAR THE TUCKERTOWN DAM.  ONCE THERE, THEY UNLOADED THERI EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO FISH FROM THE BANK. Two people REMAINED IN THE BOAT STRAIGHTENING UP THE REMAINING EQUIPMENT.  victim LIT A CIGARETTE, THIS IGNITED GASOLINE FUMES IN THE BOAT AND CAUSED A FIRE.  SEVERAL OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BOAT STATED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS FUMES DURING THEIR TIME IN THE BOAT.  IT IS BELIEVED THERE WAS A GAS LEAK.

THE PARTY THEN ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGISH THE FIRE BY USING THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND SPLASHING LAKE WATER ONTO THE BURNING BOAT.  THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE BOAT BURNED DOWN TO THE WATER LINE.

THE BOAT IS REPORTED TO HAVE HAD AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF LIFE JACKETS.  NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS USED THEM.  IT IS NOT BELIEVED THAT ALCOHOL USE WAS A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT.
NEW LONDON                    