On september 18th around 11:00pm, vessel 1 was headed east on lake gaston.  Vessel 2 was approximately 1 mile east of the bridge involved in jug fishing.  Vessel 1 had just passed under the eaton ferry bridge and continued east at a speed of approximately 35 mph.  Operator1 stated that she saw what looked like glowing balls in the water, so she turned to the right to avoid them.  The glowing balls were fishing jugs that had glow sticks inside.  Upon turning her boat to the right, vessel 1 hit vessel 2.  Vessel 1 struck vessel 2 on the starboard side towards the front, causing significant damage to both vessels.  Operator2 was in the front of vessel 2 at the time of the collision, while his wife was asleep on the rear seat of the vessel.  Operator2 is in critical condition at pitt memorial hospital and has not been interviewed at the time of this report.  Lt. and myself inspected the front navigation lights and siezed them as evidence.  On sunday the 19th, lt., officer and myself recovered the bemini top from the bottom of the lake so we could inspect the stern light.  The light evidence we have gathered indicate that the navigational lights on vessel 2 were not on at the time of the accident.  

Note:  for vessel 2 information with *** indicated unknown at time of this report.

LITTLETON                     