RedactedNarrative: On saturday, july 2, 2022, at approximately 17:10 hours, operator1 was operating vessel 1 on moores creek.  Immediately prior to the incient, operator1 untied the vessel from the dock and took off turning to the southeast to head downstream on moores creek.  After oversteering to the southeast, operator1 then oversteered vessel 1 to the southwest in an attempt to get back on course down the middle of the creek.  Operator1 then attempted to turn vessel 1 back to the south but struggled fighting the steering wheel.  The vessel's bow hen collided with a large cypress tree along the west shoreline of moores creek.  After the vessel collided with the tree, operator1 fell in the floor of the vessel possibly striking the center console.  
  
  According to operator1, the steering on this vessel was very stiff.  The owner of the vessel, said that the steering on the vessel is very stiff because it doesn't have power steering.  According to operator1, after she stood up, she began trying to paddle the vessel back to her dock, but was unsuccessful.  Operator1 was able to holler for help and a vessel passing by hooked up to the vessel and towed it back to her dock.  Operator1 was then transported to pender memorial hospital by a friend.  I was notified of the incident via phone call at approximately 16:50 hours by nc wrc officer.  I arrived on scene at the pender memorial hospital in burgaw.  At approximately 17:14 hours for the investigation, nc wrc officer went to the scene of the crash by vehicle.  Operator1 sustained a laceration to her right lower leg that required 20 stitches, a laceration to her nose that required 3 stitches, and a broken rib.  
  
  Vessel 1 sustained major fiberglass cracks to the bow hull, cracked fiberglass bow cap, and a broken key switch.  Damage to vessel 1 was estimated at $5000.00
  
  