Taylor LP
08-22-2003, 06:11 AM
Posted on Thu, Aug. 21, 2003
Three hospitalized after boat jumps N.C. lake into car
Associated Press
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Three people were hospitalized early Thursday after a boat speeding across Lake Norman apparently became airborne, jumped a guardrail, and struck a southbound car on Interstate 77.
"There's a boat coming into the air!" Lucas Croft thought as he drove down I-77.
Moments later, the boat struck his car.
"It kind of bounced off the hood," Croft told News 14 Carolina. "It was weird because there was no impact. We just kept driving. Then I pulled over because it blew out my tire and dented my hood up pretty good."
Croft did not see was how the boat became airborne.
"The boat hit the bank, and when he did, he came up over the guard rail, never touched the guardrail, never touched neither lane and then landed in the center median," said Rodney Snipes, who witnessed the accident.
Even experienced law enforcement officers were astonished by the events.
"In my 18 years with the Highway Patrol, I've never heard of this happening before," said Sgt. Greg Christopher of the state Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred about 2:20 a.m. where the highway crosses the lake on a bridge at mile marker 30, said Corrine Rust of Mecklenburg County Emergency Services.
"After the collision, it (boat) traveled into the median and turned upside down, where it came to rest," Christopher said.
Croft tried to describe the bizarre accident.
"It was crazy," he told WCNC-TV. "It was like something you'd see in a movie. You don't see things like this happen in real life."
The three people who were hospitalized were all riding in the boat, Christopher said.
One victim was taken by helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Another victim was transported by ambulance to the same hospital, Rust said, and a third victim was taken to another area hospital.
Robert Jones, 30, and John Bills, whose age was unavailable, were in critical condition Thursday at Carolinas Medical Center, hospital officials said. Jennifer Wade, 28, was in fair condition. Their hometowns were not released.
N.C. Wildlife Officer Bobby Blackwell said officers found empty beer cans in the 20-foot Baja speed boat. They are awaiting toxicology lab results and trying to determine how fast the boat was going, he said. Blackwell said he wasn't sure who was driving the boat.
Christopher said none of the four people riding in the car was injured.
Investigators are trying to determine how the boat became airborne.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, with its expertise in boating, is looking into that area, Christopher said.
Three hospitalized after boat jumps N.C. lake into car
Associated Press
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Three people were hospitalized early Thursday after a boat speeding across Lake Norman apparently became airborne, jumped a guardrail, and struck a southbound car on Interstate 77.
"There's a boat coming into the air!" Lucas Croft thought as he drove down I-77.
Moments later, the boat struck his car.
"It kind of bounced off the hood," Croft told News 14 Carolina. "It was weird because there was no impact. We just kept driving. Then I pulled over because it blew out my tire and dented my hood up pretty good."
Croft did not see was how the boat became airborne.
"The boat hit the bank, and when he did, he came up over the guard rail, never touched the guardrail, never touched neither lane and then landed in the center median," said Rodney Snipes, who witnessed the accident.
Even experienced law enforcement officers were astonished by the events.
"In my 18 years with the Highway Patrol, I've never heard of this happening before," said Sgt. Greg Christopher of the state Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred about 2:20 a.m. where the highway crosses the lake on a bridge at mile marker 30, said Corrine Rust of Mecklenburg County Emergency Services.
"After the collision, it (boat) traveled into the median and turned upside down, where it came to rest," Christopher said.
Croft tried to describe the bizarre accident.
"It was crazy," he told WCNC-TV. "It was like something you'd see in a movie. You don't see things like this happen in real life."
The three people who were hospitalized were all riding in the boat, Christopher said.
One victim was taken by helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Another victim was transported by ambulance to the same hospital, Rust said, and a third victim was taken to another area hospital.
Robert Jones, 30, and John Bills, whose age was unavailable, were in critical condition Thursday at Carolinas Medical Center, hospital officials said. Jennifer Wade, 28, was in fair condition. Their hometowns were not released.
N.C. Wildlife Officer Bobby Blackwell said officers found empty beer cans in the 20-foot Baja speed boat. They are awaiting toxicology lab results and trying to determine how fast the boat was going, he said. Blackwell said he wasn't sure who was driving the boat.
Christopher said none of the four people riding in the car was injured.
Investigators are trying to determine how the boat became airborne.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, with its expertise in boating, is looking into that area, Christopher said.