On May 04, 2023, at approximately 2000 hrs, Operator and Subject1 were traveling by boat from Soap Creek to Elijah Clark State Park, headed towards the main channel of Clarks Hill Lake at a speed of approximately 30-35 mph. Operator advised that while nearing the mouth of Soap Creek, his vessel struck an unidentified object. 

According to Operator, his vessel impacted the object on its front to mid starboard half. After initial impact, the vessel ramped over the object, becoming airborne roughly 1 foot out of the water, with the object scraping underneath the operator’s console under the hull, forcing the vessel to rotate to the starboard side, and landing on its port side.

 Operator and Subject1 remained inside the vessel, unharmed. Once the occupants realized no injuries were involved, Operator turned his vessel around to observe the obstruction. A metal rod was briefly noticed with a large orange buoy tied off to it. Operator realized his vessel was taking on water, turned the bilge switch on, and proceeded to the Elijah Clark State Park boat ramp.

 Once at the ramp, the vessel had taken on too much water to be loaded on the trailer.  Operator ran the boat back out towards the open channel for the bilge to cycle out the excess water before returning to the boat ramp and loading the vessel. 

The next day, Operator rode a PWC (Jetski) out to the mouth of Soap Creek to identify the object more thoroughly. It appeared to Operator the object resembled a small light post or metal rod. Operator tried tying off to the object and removing it by use of the PWC. At this time, Operator realized the object was anchored to the floor of the lake. Once back on shore, Operator called the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and spoke with Ranger. Ranger notified his supervisors of the obstruction, as well as notifying DNR LE to complete the incident report for Operator.

Clarks Hill Lake
LINCOLNTON                    