RedactedNarrative: After completing my investigation of the vessel incident on 5-29-2017 at approximately 1800 in sneads ferry nc, it is my opinion based on my training and experience that three personal water crafts were traveling south on the icw, and the following occurred: the witness vessel was a life guard employed by makin waves rental company that rented the personal watercraft to operators 1 and 2.  
  
  All three vessels were cruising south on the icw meeting a large vessel that created a 2-4 foot wake.  Vessel 1 was traveling at an excessive and negligent speed for the conditions and impacted the wake the large vessel created losing control of the pwc throttle causing the vessel to slow.   
  
  As vessel 1 impacted the second wake, his vessel nosed into the water causing his vessel to rapidly decelerate.  The operator of vessel 1 was then ejected.  During the ejection, his left knee and ankle were injured.  Vessel 1 then lost power due to the safety ignition switch turning the vessel off.  
  
  Vessel 2 was traveling at an unsafe distance and excessive speed for the conditions.  Due to his excessive negligent speed for the conditions, he was unable to steer clear of vessel 1 ultimately impacting vessel 1 on the starboard side just behind the handlebars causing severe damage to both vessels.  Vessel 2 operator sustained a head injury but did not require first aid.
  
  In conclusion, both vessel operators contributed to this incident.  Vessel 1 contributed to this incident by operating his vessel in a careless and negligent manner for the water conditions, and operating at an excessive speed.  
  
  Vessel 2 contributed to this incident by operating his vessel in a careless and negligent manner for the water conditions operating at an excessive speed and following too close to another vessel.  Both operators inexperience also contributed to this incident.
  
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  Please note:  
  
  Even though there were two other vessels mentioned in this report, (the lifeguard vessel and the one that created the wake), only the two pwc vessels were involved in this incident.
  
  Report complete
  