VESSEL #1 WAS A 1978 15 FOOT COBIA and ON JULY 8, 2009 VESSEL #1 WAS CRUISING SOUTHEAST ON THE NEUSE RIVER HEADING TOWARDS NORTHWEST CREEK IN CRAVEN COUNTY.  VESSEL #1 WAS BEING OPERATED AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN OPEN WATER WHEN THE HULL CRACKED AND SEPARATED ALONG A HULL RIB AND WATER IMMEDIATELY FLOODED THE VESSEL AND SANK 200 YARDS OFFSHORE.  ALL 5 VICTIMES PUT ON PFD'S AND SWAM TO SHORE.  THE VICTIMS WERE ABLE TO CONTACT 911 AND WERE PICKED UP BY SWIFT CREEEK RESCUE AND TRANSPORTED TO LAWSON CREEK ACCESS.  THE VESSEL WAS TOWED TO NORTHWEST CREEK AND REMOVED FROM THE WATER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
NEW BERN                      