On july 4th 2010 at approximately 1:40 am vessel #1, a 20 ft jc pontoon, nc 0355 wu, was traveling east on lake gaston.  The operator believed he was traveling west.  The operator approached the dam for lake gaston.  The operator thought that the dam was the eaton's ferry bridge.  Vessel #1 collided with the dam structure at 5th flood gate from the north eand of the flood gates.  Vessel #1 travelled up onto the top of the flood gates. (see photos).  There were 12 persons on board.  4 passengers were injured.  No passengers were thrown out of the vessel.  The injuries appeared to be from passengers heads striking the steel beams covering the flood gate area and from falls in boat and/or falling into each other.  Subject1 who was sitting in the front starboard passenger area, was knocked unconscious.  Subject2 who was standing near the operator or walking to the front of the boat at the time of the collision recieved a laceration to the top of his head that required staples.  Subject3 was on the port side of the boat seated near the front.  he recieved a concussion and minor laceration to the face. Subject4, who was on the port side of the boat near the center of the vessel, recieved a concussion and lumbar strain.  All the other passengers (except two) were seated or standing in the stern area.  Immediately after the collision the operator with assistance of another uninjured passenger picked up parks and climbed out of the vessel and onto the top of the dam.  Some of the passengers put on pfds.  After putting on pfds, the others all managed to climb out of the vessel and onto the top of the dam.  Two passengers were assigned to try to walk to the south shore to a house to try and get help.  Another passenger called 911.  The operator and the passengers stayed on top of the dam and waited for help.  Subject1 regained consciousness before ems units arrived.

Wrc enforcement, halifax ems, halifax deputy sheriffs and littleton fire dept responded to the scene.  The injured passengers were transported to halifax regional medical center by halifax ems, where they were treated and released.  All were released by 6:30am on july 4th.  The vessel sustained major damage to the front of the pontoons at the water level.  Vessel sustained extensive damage to top structure (1/2 missing), the front railing and side panels forward of the beam were bent and crushed.  The steering console was not fast to the deck and laying in floor.  The gas tank had fallen off the stern deck area.  The motor, 60 hp mercury, was partially submerged.

It was determined that all of the passengers had been drinking and it was determined that the operator was impaired.  At the time of this report the operator has been charged with operating a vessel while impaired.

According to the operator and the passengers, the operator and the passengers believed that they were traveling under the eatons ferry bridge at the time of the collision.
ROANOKE RAPIDS                