ON OR ABOUT 5:00 PM THE 17TH OF JUNE 2009 THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF A 2005, 23; SEA FOX, WERE INVOLVED IN A BOATING ACCIDENT IN TUBBS INLET NEAR SUNSET BEACH.  I, RECEIVED THE REPORT JUNE 18 THE FOLLOWING DAY AND AFTER INTERVIEWING OPERATOR WHO DETAILED THE FOLLOWING.

OPERATOR STATED THAT HE WAS PULLING TWO INDIVIDUALS ON A TUBE BEHIND HIS VESSEL, AS OPERATOR BEGAN TO TURN HIS VESSEL TO THE LEFT THE TUBE BEGAN TO SWING OUT TO THE RIGHT, THE PASSENGERS ON THE TUBE NOTICED THAT THEY WERE SWINGING IN A DIRECT PATH WITH A FLOATING DOCK, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS ABLE TO BAIL OFF THE TUBE BEFORE THE IMPACT.  THE SECOND PASSENGER, NEPHEW TO OPERATOR, WAS UNABLE TO BAIL OFF THE TUBE IN TIME AND STRUCK THE DOCK WITH HIS HEAD KNOCKING HIM UNCONSCIOUS.  OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY NOTICED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND TURN HIS VESSEL AROUND AND BEACHED IT NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT.  OPERATOR AND THE PASSENGERS ON THE VESSEL JUMPED IN THE WATER AND RECOVERED THE STILL UNCONSCIOUS.  THE LOCAL PARAMEDIC'S WAS CONTACTED AND victim WAS TRANSPORTED TO NEW HANOVER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, VICTIM SUSTAINED A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY AND IS STILL RECEIVING TREATMENT.

I DETERMINED THAT THE OPERATOR'S INATTENTION TO BE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.  NO EVIDENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WAS INDICATED TO BE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.  BOTH INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE WEARING PFD'S.  NO CITATIONS WERE ISSUED.
OCEAN ISLE                    