On 1/13/2023 at appx 10:00am, a boating incident occurred on lake norman 130 yds from the shoreline of trane technologies.  The incident occurred on the mecklenburg and iredell county line.  It is estimated that the vessel capsized in iredell county and drifted into mecklenburg county.  

Vessel 1 was owned by operator at the time of the incident.  Operator also had two passengers and a dog on board.  He launched his boat from the griffith st area.  This section of lake norman is separated from the main body of water by i-77 and is commonly referred to as lake davidson.  There are no public launch areas.  

Operator had two passengers, Subject1 and Subject2.  At 06:14, operator contacted ncwrc Officer1 with a hunter harrassment complaint and advised that he was hunting in iredell county on lake norman.  Officer1 messaged operator again at 06:40 and spoke with him again at 09:54.  Shortly after the conversation.  Operator and his passengers loaded up their boat and started heading back to their truck in mecklenburg county.

As they were traveling, the group noticed water inside their boat.  At first, they thought it was due to the dog and their equipment being wet, but soon realized the water was coming into the boat.  They noticed about 1" of water in the boat and started checking to see if the plug was in and if water was coming over the bow of the vessel.  Operator then slowed down, causing the boat to come off plane and the bow to drop down.  The group then tried to reposition their gear and evenly distribute the weight.  The vessel started filling up with water quickly and operator and subject2 stood up to reposition.  The vessel was taking on more water and then flipped to the port side and all three passengers fell out of the vessel.

No one in the vessel was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.  Once in the water, operator swam to the type 4 throwable and a floating decoy bag.  He then swam back to the capsized vessel.  Operator and Subject2 were simultaneously trying to get off their hunting waders.  Operator was able to get to the vessel where he took off his coat and unhooked his wader straps and got on top of the vessel.  

He gave the type 4 throwable to Subject2 and called 911 using Subject2's phone.  Subject2 said that the group tried kicking to the shore but realized it was too far.  A bystander on shore, did not witness the incident.  Bystander1 was told by an hvac technicial that there were people in the water and calling for help.  Bystander1 saw one person on top of the boat, one person halfway on the boat, and one person in the water.  Bystander1 said it looked like they were possibly trying to move the boat to shore.  Bystander1 immediately called 911, launched a kayak and went to the capsized vessel.  Emergency crews arrived shortly thereafter.

The call was placed at 10:13 and rescue, ems and fire were dispatched.  Ncwrc officers started responding at 10:17.  At 10:19 911 lost contact with Subject1.  Officers were on scene at 10:25.  At 10:27, the vessel was spotted and 3 individuals and a dog were accounted for on top of the vessel.  At 10:45, the rescue boat was able to make contact and get them out of the water.  They were then transported to the property of trane technologies in davidson mecklenburg count due to poor boat launch conditions at transco rd.  

Sgt and Officer1 were on scene at trane technologies at 11:19.  Operator was taken to novant health medical center where he was checked out but never admitted into the er or hospital.  

Operator advised that his temperature was brought up and he was released.  Subject1 was taken to atrium health where his vitals were monitored as he was wrapped in warm blankets.  Subject2 was taken to lake norman regional medical center where he was treated for hypothermia with a bair hugger blanket and with warm fluids to increase his core temperature.  He had chest x-rays due to his chest hurting.  The x-rays concluded that there was no fluid in his lungs, but the pain was a result of hyperventilation and cold conditions.  

He also had an ekg and was released on the same day.  Subject2 had a follow up appt on 1/20/23.  He now gets cold easily and his body temp is hard to regulate.  He was advised since his core temp was so low, that this could persist and is a normal side effect for hypothermia victims.  Subject2 still has ringing in his ears and was advised this is also a symptom of hypothermia.  No fluid was found in his ears and was advised to see an ent specialist if it was still occurring in a few weeks.  All three passengers were released on the same day.  Sgt and officers went to continue the investigation and return recovered items from the scene.  

Operator estimated the lost equipment to be valued at approximately $3200.00. When the vessel capsized, the mud motor, a honda 200 gx with a mudskipper twister tail kit was lost.  Operator estimated it to be worth $2000.00. Safety equipment and hunting equipment were also lost.

On 1/15/23, operator notified Officer1 that there was an "l" shaped crack in the hull at the bow of the vessel.  Operator believed that the bow was exposed to more water than normal due to using a new motor and water dame in through the crack.

Due to overloading, hull failure, and weather conditions, vessel 1 started taking on water and flipped to the port side.  As a result, all three passengers were exposed to cold water and taken to the hospital for hypothermia treatment.  No one was charged as a result of this incident.
LAKE NORMAN
DAVIDSON                      