 According to the operator of vessel 1 at approximately 4:10pm on june 20, 2013, she and her sister were riding vessel 1 behind her older sister and youngest brother on vessel 2 at approximately 4.5k rpms when she heard a boat somewhere nearby and looked to find it.  When she looked back vessel 2 had slowed nearly to a stop and vessel 1 was closing the distance behind it at a high rate of speed.  She tried to turn to miss vessel 2 but could not and collided from the rear at an angle slightly to the starboard side.  
Vessel 1 struck the back of vessel 2 hitting v2 occupant from behind and then vessel 2 operator, in the back near the top of her ribs, then slid across vessel 2 coming to rest slightly in front of vessel 2.  Both the operator and passenger were thrown from vessel 1 into the air and into the water in front of the wreckage.  Neither operator nor passenger on vessel 1 were seriously injured.  Both the operator and passenger of vessel 2 were knocked into the water face down.  One witness, stated she saw the incident from the shore and corroborated the account of the operator of vessel 1.  She stated that when the vessels came to rest they appeared to her to be head on, but after further interviewing her she stated that due to distance she was judging from the color contrast of the vessels and could not tell for sure their direction.  She did state she saw and heard the impact as well as seeing the passenger of vessel 1 flying over the wreck at a significant height and speed.  Several bystanders called 911.  All the witnesses stated they heard a very loud crashing sound and the screams of the passengers and operators for help from the wreckage.  
A pontoon boat with bystanders made its way to assist as well as a trained life guard from a nearby camp.  They succeeded in rescuing the victims into the pontoon and good samaritan performed cpr on v2 occupant until the ems providers relieved her.  The emergency medical technicians stated they felt v2 occupant to be dead upon impact, and the medical examiner for catawba county corroborated the account saying he had suffered a broken neck and head trauma and most likely died upon impact.  The operator of vessel 2 was transported to catawba valley medical center where nurses said she suffered a bilateral apical pneumo, and a mild concussion, but nothing broken.  She was then transported to charlotte medical center trauma center for further observation.  the owner of both vessels, and the grandfather of all the victims was keeping the victims at his home on mountain creek in sherills ford for the week and let them operate in the cove known as turners knob where there was very little boat traffic and the water was very calm.  Both operators had boater safety certifications taken online through nasbla.  No charges were filed with any of the parties involved, and no alcohol or drugs were detected.
 
In my opinion, the accident was a combination of operator inexperience as well as a momentary lapse in attention on the part of the operator of vessel 1.
SHERRILLS FORD