RedactedNarrative: ON 7/21/2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 0615, OPERATOR WAS HEADED SOUTH ON THE NE CAPE FEAR RIVER.  OPERATOR STATED THAT AS HE WAS NAVIGATING A SLIGHT BEND IN THE RIVER, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG.  HE WAS UNSURE IF HE HAD STRUCK AN OBJECT OR HAD SOME SORT OF MECHANICAL ISSUE.  AFTER HEARING THE BANG, HE SAID THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AS HE BEGAN TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT.  HE INDICATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY WENT INTO A FREE SPIN WITH NO RESISTANCE, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VESSEL.  THE BOAT CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AND ENDED UP STRIKING THE WEST BANK OF THE RIVER AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET INTO THE WOODS.  OPERATOR STATED HE HAD LET OFF THE THROTTLE (FOOT PEDAL) PRIOR TO THE CRASH AND ESTIMATED HIS SPEED TO BE BETWEEN 30-40MPH WHEN THEY STRUCK THE BANK.
  
  A BRIEF SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED FOR AN OBJECT THEY MAY HAVE STRUCK BUT THAT WAS UNFOUNDED. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE LOWER UNIT WHICH WOULD INDICATE AN OBJECT WAS STRUCK.
  OPERATOR WAS BOAT #1 IN A BASS TOURNAMENT AND STATED WATER CONDITIONS WERE IDEAL.
  OPERATOR AND HIS PASSENGER SUSTAINED SOME MINOR BUMPS AND BRUISES AND WERE TREATED ON SCENE BY PENDER COUNTY EMS.
  
  
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