On friday may 31, 2013, Operator was operating a motor boat on the albemarle sound and yeopim river with two passengers. The vessel was on the yeopim river heading back towards the mouth of the albemarle sound. Survivor said that he and Operator had been taking turns operating the vessel. Survivor said that they purchased a 12 pack of busch beer earlier that morning and that each of them had consumed 3 or 4 beers a piece. According to Survivor, the vessel was being operated by Operator at the time of the accident. Survivor said he was in the stern, back or rear, of the boat with the engine cover pulled off and Victim2 was riding in the bow, front, of the vessel. Survivor stated he was checking the engine out to ensure that everything was working correctly. Survivor had recently purchased this vessel and performed some repairs. The repairs included replacing the gimbal bearing, lower unit seals, and lower unit lubricant. Survivor said that he was having a really tough time trying to get the engine cover back in place and getting it latched back down correctly. Survivor said he was facing the stern, back or rear, of the vessel when he heard one of the other men yell whoa or ho. That's when the vessel impacted d on with a cypress tree. Survivor also said that he didn't feel the boat make any sharp turns or sudden movements prior to hitting the tree. Upon investigating the scene of the accident, i saw a large stump in the water just in front of the tree that the vessel impacted. 

Witness a commercial fisherman stated he saw Survivor's vessel prior to the crash operating in the albemarle sound heading east. Witness indicated that the vessel was operating close to the chowan county shoreline. Witness also said that a few minutes after seeing this vessel, he heard an engine running very loudly then saw smoke and went to investigate. Witness called 911 after he arrived on the accident scene. He found two men who appeared deceased and one injured person, Survivor. Operator was still in the vessel. Victim2 and Survivor were thrown out of the vessel over the starboard side, right side, of the vessel. The engine on the vessel was still running at high speed when Witness arrived. The engine had caught on fire, so Witness extinguished the fire by covering it with a wet burlap sack. Witness told me that when he arrived Survivor was trying to get the engine shut off. Harvey point law enforcement officers arrived on scene next, followed by chowan county sheriff officers and ncwrc officers. Survivor was transported to albemarle hospital in elizabeth city for treatment. When i arrived on scene, i found Operator deceased in the floor of the vessel and Victim2 deceased in the cypress, knees on the starboard side, right side of the vessel. 
Survivor said that he had been a boater most of his life and that he knew the area and water. He stated had he known that the vessel was so close to shore, he would have warned Operator and had him to change his course. 
I, officer, did find a small cooler containing 2 unopened cans of busch beer. One of the cans of beer had split open from the impact of the vessel with the tree. I also found an empty busch beer can in the water floating next to the engine cover on the starboard side, right side of the vessel. The steering wheel was broken and pushed downward towards the floor of the vessel. The shifter was completely broken away from the vessel. The vessel outdrive was broken away from the vessel. None of the occupants were wearing pfds when the crash occurred. Survivor was treated and released later that afternoon. No charges are pending at this time. 
Please note that the blood alcohol content of the other two persons is un
EDENTON