On march 4 at approximately 7:00am, vessel 1 was fishing and trolling upstream about 60 yards from the northern shore of lake hickory approximately 1/2 mile below rhodhiss dam.  There were 3 people on board, Operator1, who was on the front deck operating the trolling motor, V1 occupant2, who was located in the middle of the boat and V1 occupant3, who was fishing between the console and the rear deck.  As vessel 1 was trolling upstream, vessel 2 was travelling upstream toward rhodhiss dam at approximately 30 to 40 mph.  Vessel 2 then struck vessel 1 on the port side of stern.  At the time of impact, the occupants of vessel 1, Operator1 and V1 occupant2, jumped over the starboard side of the boat into the water.  V1 occupant3 dropped to the bottom of the boat between the console and the rear deck.  Occupants of vessel 2 said they never saw vessel 1 but they could hear people yelling just before impact.  the operator of vessel 2 said that due to the cold weather he had his head behind the windshield looking just over the depth finder located on top of the console.  He said that he believed he could not see vessel 1 due to the front fishing seat located on the front deck of his boat he was operating.  After impact, Operator2 turned around to assist the two people in the water.  The two people were thrown a type iii pfd and a type iv pfd and then were retrieved from the water.  Both vessels then went to the southern shore and called ems.  V1 occupant3 and V1 occupant2 were transported to frye hospital in catawba county.

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Passengers were not wearing pfds at the time of impact, but put one on after they were thrown to them after impact, so in essence, they did have on pfds.

RHODHISS                      