THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON FALLS LAKE, SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF SANDLING BEACH.  THE TWO PWC’S WERE OPERATING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.  THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL #1 WAS ATTEMPTING TO SPLASH VESSEL #2.  OPERATOR1 WAS OPERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND COULD NOT TURN FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID VESSEL #2.  VESSEL #1 STRUCK VESSEL #2 ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE BOW, AND JUMPED OVER.  THIS COLLISION BROKE THE HANDLE BAR OF VESSEL #2 AND BROKE SEVERAL HOLES IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE HULL.  VESSEL  #1 HAD SCRATCHES ALL ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL FROM GOING OVER VESSEL #2.  THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL #2 WAS KNOCKED OFF, AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS.  THE TWO PEOPLE ON VESSEL #1 SWAM TO HIM AND HELD HIS HEAD OUT OF THW WATER.  THEY WERE ABLE TO FLAG DOWN ANOTHER VESSEL, WHICH STOPPED AND DIALED 911.  OPERATOR2 REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS AND WAS ABLE TO CLIMB ONTO VESSEL #1.  THE THREE PEOPLE FROM BOTH VESSEL SRODE VESSEL #1 TO SANDLING BEACH WHERE THEIR FAMILIES WERE.  EMS, WAKE CO. SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND NC PARKS OFFICERS ARRIVED AT SANDLING BEACH.  EMS TOOK THE THREE PEOPLE INVOLVED TO WAKE MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE I CONTACTED THEM.  ALL THREE PEOPLE HAD BEEN WEARING APPROPRIATE PFD’S AND ALL INJURIES WERE MINOR.  IN MY OPINION OPERATOR INEXPERIENCE, INATTENTION, AND CARELESS/RECKLESS OPERATION ON THE PART OF OPERATOR1 (VESSEL #1) WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
WAKE FOREST                   