RedactedNarrative: On february 24, 2018, i received a call from dispatch at approximate 1400 informing me that there had been a boating accident on the neuse river near goldsboro in wayne county.  I called wayne county sheriff deputy in which he advised that there was a single vessel accident with one person being transported to the hospital with injuries to the right of the side of the body. 
  
  Upon arrival, i met with n.c. wildlife officer at whiskey dick boat ramp in goldsboro.  The single vessel that was involved in the accident was a 2005 yamaha vs jetski belonging to operator.  Operator was riding with two other friends that day on the neuse river.  The three gentlemen had launched their vessels, all pwcs, from the whisky dick boat ramp and headed north on the river for a leisurely ride.  They had been riding for several hours that day and traveled to the power plant on the neuse river in goldsboro.  They were headed back down the neuse river with operator leading in front of the other two pwcs.  There was another vessel fishing in the bend of the river at the time.  Operator had rounded the bend, out of sight of the other two pwcs and reduced speed when passing the vessel.  The fisherman on that vessel stated that after he passed them, he increased his speed very quick.  
  
  The operators of the other two pwcs, rounded the bend when they saw operator floating in the water on the right side of the river and the pwc adrift on the far left side of the river.  Subject1 grabbed operator by his pfd and took him to the river bank.  Some citizens riding their atvs stopped to assist and called 911.   Mar mac fire and rescue arrived on scene, launched their boat, and transported operator to the whiskey dick boat ramp to transport him to wayne memorial hospital.  
  
  Officer and myself launched our patrol boat with subject1 onboard to the site where the accident occurred.  We were able to identify the tree(s) which operator collided.  It appears that operator came around the bend at a high rate of speed and steered to the far right side of the river to go around a large tree stretching across ¾ of the river.   Directly past that downed tree was another downed tree on the far right side, which operator was traveling on.  He was unable to steer back to the left in enough time to miss the tree resulting in colliding with the downed tree.  
  
  The pwc then went airborne for approximately 5 yards, landed directly in front of another tree growing out over the river approximately 3 feet high, and this is the tree that operator physically made impact.  The contusions on the right side of the body indicate that he went over the tree with his right arm and right thigh taking the brunt of the impact.  His pwc continued to go under the tree with the handle bar being bent down from the impact, and veering off the left side of the river before coming to a stop.
  
  In conclusion, it appears that due to excessive speed operator was unable to avoid colliding with the tree.  Operator was wearing his pfd at the time of accident.   No alcohol was involved and he was charged with reckless and negligent operation.
  
  
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  Please note:  this was a "one-vessel" incident-no other vessels were involved.
  
  
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