ON SUNDAY, 6/11/23, A BOATING INCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPX 13:00 HRS ON HIGH ROCK LAKE RESULTING IN APPROX $4500.00 IN VESSEL DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES.
THE VESSEL INVOLVED WAS A 21FT REGAL MAR CABIN CRUISER THAT IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY OPERATOR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.  SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT.  

OPERATOR WAS TRAVELLING SW INTO THE MOUTH OF DUTCH SECOND CREEK AT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH.  SHE THEN BEGAN ACCELLERATING AND WA BETWEEN 10-20 MPH WHEN SHE FELT AND HEARD A LARGE THUMP AT THE STERN OF THE VESSEL.  SHE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND LOOKED AT THE STERN AND SAW THAT THE VESSEL WAS QUICKLY TAKING ON WATER.  SHE ASO NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEANING BACKWARDS A LOT MORE THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.  SHE IMMEDIATELY STEERED THE VESSEL TOWARDS COW ISLAND AT THE MOUTH OF DUTCH SECOND CREE. WHERE SHE MADE IT TO SHORE AND TIED THE VESSEL UP TO A TREE.  SHORTY AFTER TYING OFF TO THE TREE, THE REAR OF THE VESSEL SANK DOWN TO THE SHALLOW BOTTOM AROUND THE ISLAND.  SHE THEN CALLED HER MOTHER TO MEET HER AT SOUTHMONT BOATING ACCESS AREA.  SHE WAS THEN ABLE TO FLAG DOWN A PASSING VESSEL AND THEY TRANSPORTED HER TO SOUTHMONT.  ONCE THERE, OPERATOR AND HER MOTHER CONTACTED TRACY'S TOWING AND RECOVERY TO START THE PROCESS OF RECOVERING THE VESSEL FROM HIGH ROCK LAKE.

MASTER OFFICER 1 AND SGT 2 WITH THE NCWRC LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION WERE PATROLLING BOATING ON HIGH ROCK LAKE AND SAW THE SWAMPED VESSEL TIED UP TO COW ISLAND AT APPROXIMATELY 14:05.  EMPLOYEE WITH TRACY'S TOWING AND RECOVERY WAS ALREADY ON THE LAKE AND HAD JUST ARRIVED TO INSPECT THE VESSEL.  HE PROVIDED OFFICER 1 AND SGT 2 WITH OPERATOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION.  OFFICER 1 THEN CONTACTED HER AND TRAVELLED TO SOUTHMONT BOATING ACCESS AREA TO MEET WITH HER AND HER MOTHER.  OPERATOR GAVE HER ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED AND FILLED OUT THE MB 4.1.

TRACY'S TOWING AND RECOVERY SUCCESSFULLY RECOVERED THE VESSEL ON MONDAY, 6/12/23.  ONCE THE VESSEL WAS TRAILERED AND OUT OF THE WATER, OFFICER 1 MET WITH EMPLOYEE TO INSPECT THE VESSEL.  THE TRANSOM OF THE VESSEL IS CONSTRUCTED OF PLYWOOD ON THE INTERIOR AND A THIN LAYER OF FIBERGLASS ON THE EXTERIOR.  THE PLYWOOD WAS ROTTEN AND AS THE VESSEL ACCELERATED, THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION PUSHED THE LOWER END OF THE MOTOR MOUNT INTO THE TRANSOM BREAKING IT.  THIS CREATED A LARGE HOLE IN THE TRANSOM AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR MOUNT.  THIS ALLOWED WATER TO QUICKLY FLOOD IN AND EVENTUALLY SWAMP THE STERN OF THE VESSEL.

OPERATOR HAS VERY LITTLE BOATING EXPERIENCE AND HAS NEVER TAKEN A BOATER EDUCATON COURSE.  THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT IS HULL FAILURE AT THE TRANSOM.  THE COST TO RECOVER THE VESSEL WAS APPROXIMATELY $6000.00.  THE VALUE OF THE VESSEL IS APPROXIMATELY $4500.00 AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS.  THERE WILL BE NO CRIMINAL CHARGES AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT.  ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ARE NOT A FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT.

***PLEASE NOTE:  THIS REPORT WAS MANUALLY ENTERED INTO BARD DUE TO CONT9NUED TRANSMISSION ISSUES BETWEEN REPORT BEAM AND BARD.***

*****BARD, PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THIS REPORT*****

**********END OF REPORT**********
HIGH ROCK LAKE
SALISBURY                     