ON 6/2/2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30AM VESSEL #1, NC 9675 WG, WAS TRAVELING UPSTREAM WEST ON ROANOKE RAPIDS LAKE.  THERE WERE (3) PERSONS ON BOARD.  THE VESSEL HAD JUST LEFT THE THELMA ACCESS AREA BOAT RAMP.  THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGERS WERE EN ROUTE TO THE GASTON DAM AREA TO CATCH BAIT.  APPROXIMATELY 350 YARDS FROM THE RAMP THE OPERATOR MISJUDGED HIS POSITION ON THE LAKE AND TURNED TOWARD THE SOUTH SHORELINE.  THE VESSEL STRUCK THE SOUTH SHORELINE (SEE DIAGRAM) AND CONTINUED UP ONTO THE SHORELINE APPROXIMATELY 40 FT. FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT.  THE AREA OF IMPACT WAS NOT A STEEP SLOPE AND IS FREE OF HARWOODS OR ROCKS.  AT THE POINT OF IMPACT THE GROUND AND SUBRATE IS MARSH LIKE AND WEEDY UNDERBRUSH.  THE VESSEL IS EQUIPPED WITH A 60 HP TILLER HAND MOTOR AND THE OPERATOR WAS OPERATING FROM THE STARBOARD SIDE REAR SEAT.  OCCUPANT1 WAS SEATED NEXT TO HIM ON THE PORT SIDE REAR SEAT.  OCCUPANT2 WAS SEATED ON THE EDGE OF FRONT DECK, PORT SIDE AND WAS FACING TOWARD THE STERN (WITH HIS FEET IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT).  THE OPERATOR AND THE REAR PASSENGER WERE WEARING THEIR PFD'S.  THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A PFD.  UPON IMPACT ALL THE PASSENGERS WERE THROWN FORWARD IN THE BOAT.  WHEN THE BOAT CAME TO REST, THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS LAYING ON THE FRONT DECK.  BOTH OF THE REAR PASSENGERS WERE LAYING IN THE FLOOR OF THE BOAT FORWARD OF THE BEAM.  THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS INJURED AND WAS COMPLAINING OF PAIN TO HIS RIBS AND RIGHT SIDE OF HIS CHEST.  ONE OF THE SUBJECTS CALLED SUBJECT OF ROANOKE RAPIDS TO ASSIST AND COME OUT AND GET VICTIM.  SUBJECT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND TWO PEOPLE ASSISTED VICTIM.  VICTIM WAS TRANSPORTED BACK TO THE RAMP AND ATTENDED AND TREATED BY HALIFAX EMS.

VICTIM WAS TREATED FOR BROKEN RIBS ON HIS RIGHT SIDE.  TWO OCCUPANTS STAYED WITH THE BOAT.  SEVERAL VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ASSISTED THEM IN RECOVERING THE BOAT.  THE BOAT WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE WATER.  THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE VESSEL.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THE USE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AND NO EVIDENCE OF EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION.
ROANOKE RAPIDS                