ON THURSDAY JANUARY 12, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00, WILDLIFE OFFICERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE BY NEW HANOVER COUNTY FIRE THAT A VESSEL WAS SINKING ON SUTTON LAKE WITH ONE PERSON ONBOARD.  

UPON INVESTIGATION WAS FOUND THAT VESSEL #1, WENT OUT ON SUTTON LAKE TO FISH BY HIMSELF.  AFTER FISHING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR HE REALIZED THAT HE FORGOT TO INSERT THE PLUG INTO THE VESSEL BEFORE HE LAUNCHED.   THE BOAT WAS FILLING WITH WATER AS HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE DOCK.  APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS NORTH OF THE FISHING DOCK THE VESSEL HAD TOO MUCH WATER IN IT AND THE VESSEL SANK. 

OPERATOR WAS UNINJURED AND ASSISTED BACK TO THE DOCK BY ANOTHER VESSEL.  OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO REMOVE VESSEL 1 FROM SUTTON LAKE THE FOLLOWING DAY.  OPERATOR WAS UNSURE OF THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE VESSEL.  HE ADVISED THAT THE BOAT WAS AT A REPAIR SHOP AND HE WOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE COST AT A LATER TIME.  HE WILL FORWARD THE ESTIMATE AT THAT POINT.  
NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

END OF REPORT

CHARGES:
1.     OPERATE A VESSEL ON WATERS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION IS NOT IN FULL EFFECT. G.S. 75A-4.


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SUTTON LAKE
WILMINGTON                    