ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2011, AT AROUND 12:45PM, VESSEL 1 WAS BEING OPERATED NEAR UWHARRIE POINT PULLING THREE INDIVIDUALS ON A TUBE ZIG ZAGGING BACK AND FORTH.  THE OPERATOR DECREASED THE SPEED OF THE VESSEL TO WITHIN 10 MPH AND TURNED THE WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT.  DUE TO THE MOMENTUM OF THE TUBE AND THE WAVES CAUSED BY THE VESSEL AND THE DIRECTION THE VESSEL WAS HEADING, THE TUBE APPEARED AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VESSEL.  WHEN THE PASSENGER IN THE VESSEL REALIZED THE TUBE WAS IN THEIR PATH, HE GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN IT TO THE RIGHT AND TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AT THE SAME TIME.  THE VESSEL THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TUBE.  THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VESSEL THEN JUMPED IN THE WATER IN EFFORTS OF A RESCUE ATTEMPT.  ALL THREE INDIVIDUALS WERE TRANSPORTED TO OLD NORTH STATE BY BOAT WHERE TWO OF THE YOUNG MALES WERE AIRLIFTED TO BAPTIST HOSPITAL IN WINSTON SALEM DUE TO BEING STRUCK BY THE PROPELLER.  MEDICAL EXAMINER CONFIRMED THAT THE THIRD INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT CAUSE OF DEATH WAS DUE TO TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY.

EVERYONE ON BOARD, EXCLUDING THE ADULT WAS WEARING THEIR LIFE JACKETS.  ALCOHOL WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT.  ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT WAS PRESENT AND IN WORKING CONDITION.
BADIN                         