On september 5, 2011 at 1:26 pm, lt contacted me by phone and informed me that a boat accident had just occurred on hyco lake.  Sgt and i patrolled to hyco lake and arrived on scene at 1:45 pm.

Rescue was already on scene as well and the operator of vessel one was on a stretcher and was being cared for.  His face was very bloody and he was having difficulty answering questions.  Hyco lake authority staff informed me that Operator1 collided into one of their docks.  I observed the dock that was hit and noticed obvious damage to it.  Several boards were broken including a 2 x 6 and other boards were knocked out of place.   Witnesses stated Operator1 was going fast at the time of the accident.  They pointed out that he and vessel one initially collided with the north side of the dock and exited from the south side of it.  Vessel one was cracked.  Additionally, the mirrors and handlebars were scuffed.  I did inspect the vessel's fire extinguisher and it was charged.  I did not observe any pfds at the scene nor did Operator1 have one on.  The vessel registration was up to date.  I later learned that Operator1 purchased the vessel about a month earlier and had not yet transferred the registration over to his name.  Vessel 1 was moored several feet from the dock.

Sgt and i cleared the scene at around 2:15pm.  From there we went to person county memorial hospital. Upon arriving, i spoke with nurses caring for Operator1.  They stated they did not smell alcohol on Operator1's person while treating him.  Nurses informed me Operator1 was going to be sent to duke hospital.   Operator1 denied any prior consumption of alcohol when asked by the nurses.  Due to the fact that Operator1 could not physically answer questions very well, i told him i would make contact with him at a later date.

After several prior attempts, i was able to make contact with Operator1 on 9/20/11 around 5:00pm at his residence.  He informed me that he was just released from duke hospital the day prior which was 9/19/11.  Operator1 was still having difficulty answering questions.  He was unable to open his jaw very wide to speak.  I observed metal objects and rubber bands in his mouth placed there by doctors.  Operator1 reported that doctors had to put a hole through his neck and esophagus to allow him to breathe better.  Operator1 reported he did not break any bones as a result of the accident but did lose one tooth and sustained other injuries involving his teeth.  He reported the metal objects in his mouth were placed there by doctors to "hold his teeth together".

Operator1 stated at the time of the accident, he was going less than 20 mph.  Mr. Operator1 stated he had been riding vessel one for about 30 minutes prior to the accident.  He stated he was going to turn right and go around the dock.  He stated he was trying to slow down at the same time and that vessel one wouldn't turn.  Operator1 reported he was wearing a pfd at the time of the accident.  Operator1 stated that vessel 1 was still at hyco lake and he planned to go get it on 9/23/11. No charges were filed in this matter.

SEMORA                        