RedactedNarrative: At approximately 3:00 pm on 4/24/2017, on Rice's Creek, Operator1 was operating his 16 ft. Triton aluminum boat (NC  8357 DP) with one passenger on board, a V1 occupant.  According to the passenger, he had been fishing at the Rice's Creek access area off Governors Rd. in Brunswick County, when Operator1 pulled up and was launching his boat to go fishing. Operator1 asked V1 occupant if he wanted to go fishing in the boat with him and V1 occupant agreed.  The two individuals had never met each other before today.  
  
  According to V1 occupant, they began heading up Rice's Creek toward Town Creek.  He noticed that Operator1 was drinking and operating the boat at a high rate of speed.  He did not want to offend Operator1 so he didn't say anything at first, but after a bit he brought up the fact that Operator1 shouldn't be drinking and operating because it was dangerous.  Operator1 just laughed it off and kept offering alcohol to V1 occupant, who refused.  
  
  The rain began to get bad so they decided to head back, but because Operator1 had never been on that creek before he did not know how to get back and admitted to being lost.  V1 occupant suggested calling 911, but Operator1 did not want to potentially involve law enforcement because he had been drinking.  
  
  Operator1 called a friend to get directions and after which began heading back to the boat ramp.  V1 occupant said Operator1 was operating at a high rate of speed and he wanted him to slow down.  They came to a left turn in the creek and Operator1 was way too far to the right. When Operator1 started to make the turn, it was too late and the vessel impacted a tree located on the right hand side of the creek.  The vessel made impact with the tree on the starboard side just behind the bow where the registration numbers are located.  The impact caused V1 occupant to be thrown clear of the vessel.  V1 occupant had been wearing a PFD the entire time and was able to quickly come out of the water.  
  
  According to him, he saw that Operator1 was still in the boat, but his upper body was hanging over the gunwale and his head was in the water.  V1 occupant quickly swam to the boat and got Operator1's head up out of the water and turned him over on his back in the boat.  He stated he could see that there was an injury to the right side of Operator1's head.  He tried to get Operator1 to respond, but there was no response.  Operator1's cell phone began ringing so V1 occupant answered and told the caller what had happened and the caller called 911.  Fire and rescue responded and towed the vessel back to the ramp.  
  
  It appears Operator1 was impaired and as a result of the speed and reduced reaction time caused by alcohol, he impacted the tree causing the blunt force trauma which appears to have caused Operator1's death.  
  
  It appears that alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident based on statements made by the passenger and physical evidence located in the vessel (Burnett's Vodka 750 ML almost empty), passenger stated the operator had been mixing the vodka with a carbonated beverage and consuming while they were fishing.  A PFD was worn by the passenger.  The vessel was equipped with the proper safety equipment (PFDs, fire extinquisher, sound device, etc.).  Information derived from the medical examiners office listed the cause of death as drowning secondary to blunt force trauma related to the boating incident.  There was not an autopsy performed and Toxicology labs have been sent out to test for presence of alcohol.  Results pending.
  
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  THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED IN BARD WHEN THE TOXICOLOGY RESULTS ARE RECEIVED.
  