On june 4, 2013, at approximately 7:45pm, a boating accident occurred on the davidson creek portion of lake norman.  The accident occurred off the dock approximately 2.5 miles southeast of williamson rd.  Two vessels were involved in the accident with vessel 1 being a 17 foot 2005 bayliner capris with a 185 hp outboard/inboard motor, and a starboard side console.  The boat was operated by the son of the owner.  There were a total of six passengers aboard their vessel.  Vessel 2 which was not being operated or occupied was docked at the time of the incident.  Vessel 2 a 27 foot chaporral inboard/outboard.  Vessel 1 struck vessel 2 bow to bow, while trying to undock and maneuver back out into the channel of the creek.
According to Owner’s son, he and his friends pulled up to dock, to swim and hang out.  After a while they decided to leave to go get some wings to eat.  The other five passengers were already in vessel 1 while he was still on the dock ordering wings.  Owner’s son stated that friend cranked up the boat putting the boat in reverse and rushing him, so Owner’s son ran and jumped in the boat.  At this point, Owner’s son was operating the steering wheel while friend was operating the throttle.  Both Owner’s son and friend were standing up behind the wheel.  Owner’s son said that friend throttled forward rapidly because they were getting ready to hit the shore which thrust them rapidly forward towards vessel 2.  Friend stated that he was trying to prevent them from hitting the shore and that is why he throttled forward to aggressively.  Owner’s son was unable to steer away from vessel 2 causing them to collide, which resulted in fiberglass damage to the bow as well as shattered the windshield to vessel 1.  It damaged the bow eye bolt plate located on the keel and minor scratches to the fiberglass on the bow of vessel 2.  There were three female passengers sitting up front of vessel 1 at the time of the collision, which had to quickly maneuver into a crouched position so they did not get hit by the hull/bow of vessel 2.  One of the females had a minor scratch on her back caused by the eye bolt of vessel 2 that did not require medical treatment.  The three female passengers said they were not paying attention to Owner’s son and friend enough to be able to state what exactly happened.  There was another male present as well in the passenger seat on the port side that received no injury.  All passengers stated that both Owner’s son and friend were behind the wheel operating the boat.
It appears as though Owner’s son was operating the wheel while friend was operating the throttle, therefore having two operators at the time of the incident.  Upon investigation there were the appropriate personal flotation devices aboard vessel 1 and appears to have been no alcohol involved.  There were no charges filed to either of the operators.
MOORESVILLE