ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:40PM, A 20.5 FT BAYLINER WAS BEING OPERATED IN A CHANNEL HEADING TOWARDS THE PINEY BLUFF ACCESS AREA ON BELEWS LAKE.  OPERATOR STATED HE WAS OVERTAKING ANOTHER VESSEL ON ITS PORT SIDE.  WHEN HE HIT THE WAKE OF THE OTHER VESSEL, IT THREW HIM IN THE FLOOR OF HIS VESSEL AND OUT OF THE OPERATOR'S POSITION.  THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK HARD TO THE LEFT.  BEFORE OPERATOR COULD RECOVER FROM HIS FALL AND REGAIN CONTROL, HIS VESSEL HAD RUN AGROUND INTO SEVERAL TREES.  PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE VESSEL INCLUDED EXTENSIVE FIBERGLASS DAMAGE TO THE HULL, AS WELL AS LOWER UNIT DAMAGE ESTIMATING APPROXIMATELY $5000.00.  ADEQUATE PFDS WERE ON BOARD BUT NOT USED BY THE SURVIVOR.  ALCOHOL WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
BELEWS CREEK