ON JULY 22, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30PM, operators WERE OPERATING PWC'S ON THE ICW IN SURF CITY, NC.  ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS REPORTED BY OPERATOR1 THERE WERE THREE PWC'S RIDING TOGETHER, ONE WAS TOWING A SKIER, AND THE OTHERS WERE DRIVEN BY operator1 AND OPERATOR2.  OPERATOR1 STATED THAT OPERATOR2 WAS HEADED NORTH ALONG THE ICW WHILE HE WAS DRIVING EAST.  HE STATED THAT OPERATOR2 WAS NOT LOOKING FORWARD, BUT LOOKING BACK AT THE PWC THAT WAS TOWING THE SKIER WHEN OPERATOR2 CAME INTO HIS PATH.  OPERATOR1 STATED THAT HE TRIED TO TURN OUT OF OPERATOR2'S PATH BUT COULD NOT DO SO IN TIME.  OPERATOR1 REPORTED THAT BOTH VESSELS WERE OPERATING AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 10-20 MPH.  WHEN THE TWO PWC'S COLLIDED, OPERATOR2 SUSTAINED A COMPOUND FRACTURE TO HIS LEFT LOWER LEG.  OPERATOR2 WAS TRANSPORTED TO NEW HANOVER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER BY PENDER COUNTY EMS WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 8:17 PM. SPOKE WITH PENDER COUNTY ADA ABOUT INVESTIGATION ON 08/20/2009.  NO CHARGES WERE MADE IN THIS INVESTIGATION AS DIRECTED BY ADA.
SURF CITY                     