RedactedNarrative: According to the operator, Operator, he and his wife victim3 were test driving vessel 1 while being accompanied by the owner victim1. Victim3 drove the vessel out into the main channel of the pungo river and down the icw for some distance. Operator was operating the vessel on the return trip. As Operator approached the leechville bridge, he said he decelerated from around 4000 rpms to near 2400 rpms. As Operator got closer to the bridge he became unsure of the span that he should pass through. Witness stated she heard a man, owner, yell, "what are you doing? You are not going to make it." during the investigation, i was able to conclude that a vessel of this size could pass under each span of the bridge. Just prior to colliding with the pylon, Operator said that he turned the vessel sharp and to the left to avoid the collision. Victim1 advised me that he told Operator to slow down three times prior to striking the bridge. Victim1 said that prior to striking the pylon, Operator turned the vessel sharp and to the left with the starboard side of the vessel striking the bridge first. The initial strike was with pylon 8. The impact ejected all passengers out of the vessel. When Operator was thrown from the boat, it is believed that he pushed the throttle wide open. The vessel continued striking pylons 7 and 7a. The last strike occurred at pylon 6when the vessel exited towards the river. According to bystanders, the vessel made two circles at a high rate of speed and then struck the river bank on the hyde county side. The vessel travelled approximately 65 feet across the marsh before stopping. 
   
  ponzer vfd advised that he turned the engine off and raised the motor after the incident. He said that when he approached the vessel, the throttle was wide open, the steering wheel was straight and the motor was tilted up approximately 15%. Victim1 advised that he swam operator And victim3 to bridge pylons and told them to hold on. Witness said that she got several pfds from her sailboat and ran them to the bridge. Pfds were lowered to the survivors. A vessel picked up victim3 and brought her to shore. A good samaritan lowered a rope from the bridge and pulled victim1 to safety while witness swam pfds to Operator. Witness assisted him to the ramp at leechville bridge. Hyde county ems transported operator And victim3 to vidant beaufort county hospital. Victim3 was treated for a bruised chest and released from the facility. Operator was transferred to vidant pitt memorial hospital and is undergoing treatment for a fractured pelvis, broken ribs, lacerations, and broken fingers. Victim1 was treated by his local physician for an injured foot and laceration to his finger. 
   
  The vessel sustained hull damage on both the starboard and port sides. The leaning post on the driver's seat was bent and the steering rod was broken. I feel that the steering rod was broken after the vessel traveled 65 feet over the marsh. At this time i'm not sure of engine damage, but feel that some would have occurred due to it running at high rpms out of the water for a period of time. Ncdot determined that the bridge was safe to drive on and only suffered cosmetic damage. At this time, the use of alcohol and drugs does not appear to be a factor in this case. Hyde county ems, ncmp, hyde county so and ncdot assisted in this incident. No charges have been filed at this time.