RedactedNarrative: On the evening of march 29, 2020, i received a report from raleigh communications and request to respond to a fatal boating incident involving two vessels on the waccamaw river.
  
  I was on routine patrol at the ocean isle access area when i received a phone call from raleigh communications at approximately 17:47 about two vessels involved in an incident resulting in two vessel passenger fatalities and one missing.
  
  The first vessel operator i contacted was Operator1.  After confirming his health and his cognizant abilities, i began to question him on the boating incident and his involvement.  After gathering basic information, i decided to conduct a standardized field sobriety test based on my observation, odor of alcohol and admission of alcohol consumption from Operator1.  I began sfst at 18:45, i conducted the seated battery test starting with ngn, fto, pp and hq.  Hgn consisted of lack of smooth pursuit which i had no clues, distinct and sustained nystagmus and maximum deviation which i had two clues and onset of nystagmus prior to 45-degrees which i had no clues.  
  
  Second, i conducted the finger to nose test which i observed nine clues consisting of searching, hesitation and not fingertip with both the right and left pointer finger.  Third, i conducted the palm pat test which i observed no clues.  
  
  Lastly, i conducted the hand coordination test which i observed no clues.  Based on the clues from the sfst, i asked Operator1 if he would submit to a preliminary breath test sample.  He volunteered two samples one at 19:50 at 0.6 and the second at 19:55 at 0.7.  
  
  After conducting the field sobriety test, i contacted district attorney at 19:15 and advised of the incident and requested any advice on the matter.  He suggested drawing bllld from Operator1 due to the exigent circumstances.  Due to my experience and training after conducting the tests of Operator1, i concluded he was appreciably impaired and this was a contributing factor in the incident.  I then advised Operator1 that he was under arrest for operating on waters of the state while under the influence of an impairing substance.  I requested him to voluntarily submit to a blood draw to determine his blood alcohol and drug concentration.  He volunteered to the draw.  I advised him of his rights both written and orally.  Blood was drawn at 20:19.  
  
  During this time, sgt was conducting the same field sobriety test on Operator2, the operator of the second vessel involved in the incident.  After completion, sgt concluded that Operator2 was appreciably impaired.  He was notified that he was being placed under arrest for operating on the waters of the state while under the influence of an impairing substance.  I requested him to voluntarily submit a sample of his blood to determine blood alcohol and drug concentration.  Operator2 volunteered.  I advised him of his rights both written and orally.  Blood was drawn at 21:29.
  
  After completing the evaluation of both operators involved in the incident, i began to collect evidence, witness statements and give notice to the families of the deceased and missing passengers involved in the incident.  After conducting preliminary onsite investigation, i notified both Operator1 and Operator2 that sgt. and i would be transporting them to the brunswick county sherriff's office for further questioning of the incidence and them to the county magistrate.  I placed Operator1 in handcuffs thoroughly searched his person, advised him of his miranda warning and transported him to the county for questioning.  After arriving at the sherriff's office, i escorted Operator1 to an interview room and conducted an interview and documented his statement.  We then proceeded to the detention center where Operator1 was again searched, booked and fingerprinted per brunswick county policy.  I then escorted Operator1 to the county magistrate for completion of the criminal charge.
  
  After interviewing witnesses from the day of the incident, none of which actually saw the incident, but witnessed up to the seconds before the incident happened stated Operator1 was in a race with another vessel on the waccamaw river prior to the incident. 
  
  Operator1 and an unidentified vessel both heading south on the river. Operator1 was on the east side (brunswick) of the river and the unidentified vessel was on the west side (columbus) of the river.  Witnesses stated both vessels were running side by side and eventually Operator1 pulled ahead of the unidentified vessel and entered the bend in the river where the incident occurred.  Operator2, the operator of the dixie vessel stated that he saw the skeeter vessel approaching the bend in the river and began waving to draw attention to his vessel in hopes that the operator of the skeeter vessel would see him and take action to avoid the collision.  
  
  The collision was unavoidable at that point and the skeeter vessel struck the dixie vessel in the port bow with its bow and traveled over the top of the vessel, the direction of travel was from the port bow to the starboard stern of the dixie vessel.  
  
  Five occupants onboard the dixie vessel were the operator sitting in the starboard side helm (Operator2), passenger sitting in the bow, passenger2 sitting in the port forward facing seat, subject3 sitting in the strboard rear facing seat, subject4 sitting in the port rear facing seat was subject 5.  All 3 passengers excluding the passenger2 of the boat were killed during the collision. After the initial collision, the skeeter vessel capsized after impact with the dixie vessel and ejected the operator1 and his passenger.  Both Operator1 and passenger sustained little to no injuries.
  
  Both vessels were equipped with required safety equipment.  Operators of both vessels were charged with operating a motor vessel while under the influence of an impairing substance. Operator1 was also charged with 3 counts of 2nd degree murder. Operator impairment and speed are believed to be contributing factors in the incident.
  
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  Nothing further for this incident.
  
  
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  This report has been updated to include no pfd use by injured and fatal persons
  Nothing further for this report.
  
  Nfb 06/03/21