RedactedNarrative: According to witnesses at the scene, Operator1 was operating his vessel on the Intracoastal Waterway near the town of Holden Beach at approximately 1830 hours on April 30, 2017.  Operator1 was heading east towards Holden Beach when he met a large vessel on the waterway.  The vessel was producing a substantial wake according to Operator1.  He stated that when his vessel made contact with the wake, it caused his boat to turn sharply and he was thrown out of the vessel and as he was being ejected, he claims to have hit the side of his face on the side of the boat, which resulted in his injury.  Witness statements showed Operator1 almost hitting a channel marker and swerving toward the shore and running aground.  
  It appears that alcohol played a part in this incident.  Operator1 was arrested and charged with Operating While Impaired and submitted to the intoximeter with a result of 0.08 BAC six hours after the arrest.  The vessel was equipped with the required safety equipment.
  
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