ON JUNE 28, operator WAS OPERATING A BORROWED PWC ON BELEWS LAKE.  OPERATOR SAID HE HAD OPERATED THE PWC FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR AND IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME ON IT.  SEVERAL MALES WERE TAKING TURNS RIDING THE PWC AND WERE WAITING ON THE BANK NEAR PINEY BLUFF ACCESS AREA.  THE OPERATOR WAS RETURNING FROM THE NORTH END OF THE LAKE.  AS THE OPERATOR RETURNED TO WHERE HIS FRIENDS AND OTHERS WERE SWIMMING, HE LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND LOST STEERING CAPABILITIES.  NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO, HE JUMPED OFF OF THE PWC WHICH CONTINUED IN A STRAIGHT LINE TOWARD THE SWIMMERS.  THE PWC STRUCK two people.  One person WAS NOT INJURED, BUT victim WAS STRUCK IN THE LOWER BACK WITH THE BOW OF THE PWC.  VICTIM SAID HE WAS ABOUT 5 TO 10 FEET FROM THE BANK.  WITNESSES SAID THE PWC WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 10 MPH.  VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO BAPTIST HOSPITAL AND TOLD HE HAD BRUISING TO HIS LOWER BACK AND WAS ADVISED TO SEE HIS FAMILY DOCTOR FOR FOLLOW UP.  BOTH THE OPERATOR AND THE VICTIM SAID THEY HAD BEEN DRINKING.  THE OPERATOR WAS CHARGED WITH CARELESS AND RECKLESS OPERATION.
BELEWS CREEK                  