On august 21, 2011 at approximately 4:00pm, operator was involved in an accident while operating his vessel on the cape fear river.  The accident occurred upstream from the tar heel access area near the water intake for the waste water treatment facility in hwy 87.  The vessel was traveling up river in the direction of lock and dam 3.  According to operator, their speed was between 25 and 40 mph.  After operator took control of the boat, they reached the curve in the river which was a bend to the right.  According to operator and witnesses who were fishing nearby, both he and his father (occupant) were turned around facing the stern of the vessel.  Witnesses estimated that they were looking toward the stern long enough for the boat to travel one hundred yards.  While Operator was looking backwards, he failed to make a course correction to follow the bend of the river.  His vessel maintained its course towards the west bank of the river.

While both subjects on board were looking towards the back of the boat, the vessel struck a submerged log which is labeled as (a) in the diagram.  As the boat passed over the log, it was raised slightly out of the water.  The vessel continued towards the bank and passed under a tree growing horizontally over the water (b).  Because the vessel was elevated from contact with the submerged log, and Occupant was standing while looking towards the stern, he was struck in the back of the head by the tree labeled (b) in the diagram.  The tree was approximately four and a half feet above the surface of the water.  It was about fifteen inches in diameter.  The point of contact with occupant's head was documented through photographs and hair samples taken from the bark.  After the impact, occupant was thrown to the floor of the boat as it continued towards the west bank at a 45 degree angle.  The vessel then collided with another tree and brush pile labeled 9c) in the diagram.  The impact twisted the tree near its base and removed the driver side windshield from the boat.  This impact also injured operator who was seated at the driver's console.  The vessel passed through an opening in the brush that was approximately four feet across.  The collision with tree (c) changed the boat's course and prevented it from running on to the bank and into the woods.  The vessel was redirected towards the east bank at a 45 degree angle.

Witnesses stated that operator attempted to restart the engine on nc 1849 ds and then began to yell for help.  The witnesses placed the vessel under tow to lock and dam 3 and called ems.  The tow took thirty minutes to complete.  Occupant was transported to cape fear valley hospital for severe head trauma and blood loss.  operator was admitted later that evening and placed in intensive care for internal bleeding.

TAR HEEL                      