On sunday, july 15, 2012 at approximately 5:20pm, Operator was operating a pwc on badin lake near herring bay while pulling 3 children on a tube.  Operator pulled the tube a short distance out of the cove at herring bay and turned the pwc to the right back into the direction of the cove when he heard a loud "pop".  When he looked back, the tube that the children were riding on had hit a nearby pier.  One of the children had hit the pier.  He was complaining of chest pain, had lacerations to the face and a concussion was suspected.  One of the older children on the tube was able to secure victim and hold him in the water until adults got to them.  Montgomery county ems was called to the scene and victim was air lifted to carolinas medical center.  Victim was in stable condition and tests were conducted for chest and head injuries and asperation.  He was to be kept overnight for observation.

Upon further investigation at the accident scene, it was discovered that the strap on the tube that secured the rope to the tube had frayed and torn open and allowed the rope to come loose from the tube.  This caused the rope and tube to come free from the pwc and strike the pier.

Operator told me he had drank 2 or 3 beers prior to eating lunch around 2:00pm.  Operator was tested for impairment on the scene and tests were negative for impairment.  An alcosensor reading was taken and registered 0.0.  There was no evidence of drugs contributing to the accident.

Operator was wearing a type 3 pfd and all 3 children were wearing type 3 pfds.  The pfds were serviceable and fitted properly.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the pwc that Operator was pulling the tube with was rated for 3 persons.  Operator was charged with exceeding the manufacturers maximum safe load recommendation.

NEW LONDON                    