RedactedNarrative: On friday july 19, 201,9 a vessel incident occurred in mecklenburg county on lake norman.  The incident occurred at approximately 9:30pm.  The incident involved two vessels. The first vessel involved was a 2018 20' bennington pontoon boat.  There were a total of two people on vessel one when the incident occurred. The second vessel involved in this incident was a 2019 21' yamaha center console boat with six people onboard.
  
  The vessels were operating in and around the main channel of lake norman near marker 1a.  Vessel one was heading perpendicular towards the shoreline in an east-northeast direction.  Vessel two was heading in a east-southeast direction parallel to the shoreline.  Vessel one was the stand on vessel based on how the vessels were approaching one another, vessel two was the give way vessel.  Vessel one was traveling at approximately 10-15 miles per hour.  Vessel two had just gotten on plane.  It was traveling at approximately 15-20 miles per hour.  
  
  Vessel two struck vessel one on the port side.  The point of impact was just behind the port side navigation light.  The momentum of the vessel's impacting caused vessel two to ramp over and through vessel one.  Operator2 and subject1 were both ejected from vessel two as a result of the impact.  Subject3 assumed control of vessel two after the operator was ejected. 
  
  Subject1 swam to operator2 with a lilly pad that he retrieved from the vessel.  He used the lilly pad to assist operator2 with getting back to the vessel.  Operator2 indicated that he was not a strong swimmer.  He nor subject1 were wearing a pfd at the time the incident occurred.  The operator of vessel one immediately called 911 for assistance.  Vessel two left the scene of the incident once all of the occupants were accounted for and back onboard.  
  
  Subject3 believed that her vessel had a hole and was taking on water.  She indicated that they left the scene and beached the vessel.  Subject3 indicated that they used the bilge pump to evacuate water from the vessel.  Cornelius pd lake patrol unit was the first unit dispatched to the scene of the incident.  Officers stayed with vessel one until towboat us arrived.  Cornelius pd then began to search for vessel two.  Vessel two was located near the r5 marker in ramsey creek.  The vessel was headed for the residence of the owner operator2.  There were no serious injuries from either vessel as a result of this incident.  All parties refused medical treatment.  Vessel one operator stated that he did have his navigation lights on as required.  All occupants of vessel two stated that they didn't see any navigation lights prior to the collison.  Vessel two's occupants stated that vessel one activated his navigation lights after the impact. 
  
  In conclusion, this vessel incident was caused by operator inattention from both vessel operators.  The operators of both vessels failed to keep a proper lookout in order to avoid a collision.  Vessel two should have given way to vessel one.  The question remains of whether vessel one was displaying navigation lights as required by law. 
  
  There are no charges pending in this incident.  The were no serious injuries or fatalities.  The damage to vessel one is estimated at$15,000.00.  Vessel one sustained substantial damage to the metal railing, metal panels and to the seats.  
  
  The damage to vessel two is estimated at $10,000.00.  Vessel two sustained damage on the front portion of the hull and fiberglass damage along both side of the hull.
  
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