Subjects were out on cape fear river, cumberland county, fayetteville the evening of july 30, 2023 at approximately 9:20 p.m. They were on the river with plans to fish. Operator1 was operating a 24 ft, 2019 tracker tri toon pontoon boat, red in color with a 150-horsepower mercury four stroke motor at an average speed of 9.8 mph. There was an appropriate amount of pfd''s on the boat and the 9 year old grandson was wearing a type iii pfd. They were going up river towards the 301 bridge where they intended to fish. 

On their way up river they passed a boat. Operator1 had his appropriate navigation lights on as well as a lightbar towards the stern of the boat. When they got up to the bridge the other vessel operator came "running up" (approaching quickly) on operator1s boat. There was some choice words exchanged between the two boaters. While this was happening the port side(left side) of operator1s boat hit a tree that comes out at the "titanic"(a sunk moored barge). Subject had a cut on his left eyebrow. They returned to 87 boatramp. They took subject to his dad and his dad took him to the emergency room to get stitches.

CAPE FEAR RIVER
FAYETTEVILLE                  