On june 6, 2010, vessel 1 and vessel 2 were operating jet skis in davidson cove of lake norman.  They had been to the holiday marina to fuel and were returning to Operator1's residence.  As they were crossing the channel, vessel 1 apparently stalled.  Vessel 2 was following at a distance of approximately fifty feet.  When Operator1 realized that vessel 2 was going to collide with his vessel, he jumped off the port side of vessel 1.  Vessel 2 struck Operator1's legs and the port stern of vessel 1.  After striking vessel 1, vessel 2 continued to ride up the port side of vessel 1 breaking the handle bar and port side mirror of vessel 1.  Operator2 stated that he saw vessel 1 stop ahead of him and he tried to maneuver vessel 2 to avoid the collision, but vessel 2 did not respond.  I asked him if there had been any steering malfunctions prior to the accident and he responded that there had not been.  He also told me that they used vessel 2 to get back to shore and made no mention of any further malfunctions in the steering of vessel 2.  It is my opinion that when vessel 1 stalled ahead of Operator2, he panicked and let off the gas thus leaving him with no control of the steering of the jet ski and this caused the collision.

Operator1 suffered a sprained ankle and a hematoma on his thigh.  Vessel 1 had minor damage to the stern, a broken handlebar, and a broken port side mirror.  Vessel 2 had no determinable damage.  This information is according to Operator1 and Operator2.  They did not report the accident when it happened and the damage had already been repaired when the report was finally made, thus no pictures are included.

Operator1 and Operator2 were both charged with failing to report the accident as required by nc general statutes.  Operator2 was also charged with operating a motorboat in a careless and reckless manner so as to endanger life, limb, and property.

MOORESVILLE                   