Hole in boat caused fishermen's death

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A boat that sank Sunday, killing two fishermen, had a hole at the bottom, officials say.
Reginald Tyrone Harris, 42, of 3740 Tennessee Ave., Charlotte, and Jon Christopher Milton, 28, of 2627 Brentwood Place, Charlotte, died early Sunday after witnesses spotted the men in distress shortly after midnight near Tamarac Marina.
“At some point, a hole had been drilled through the bottom of the boat. It was caulked with some material,” said Sgt. Tony Sharum of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Sharum said there was a quarter-sized hole in the boat.
Authorities later examined the boat, he said. It was towed to Crawford’s Garage on Stokes Ferry Road.
Sharum speculates that the boat filled with water and one of the men moved. The combined weight of the water, with the shift in weight, overturned the boat.
There were life preservers on the boat, but Sharum assumed the two men did not have time to get them.
The main engine, Sharum said, was not running, but the men were using a trolling motor.
The motor, which is common on fishing boats, was battery-powered and attached to the bow of the boat.
“Alcohol was not indicated,” he said.
Rowan County Sheriff George Wilhelm said Sunday witnesses saw a boat going under the Bringle Ferry Road bridge headed toward the wildlife area.
The witnesses said they could tell the boat was having trouble and it didn’t sound like it was running right, he said.
The boat went out of sight, and the witnesses never saw anyone but heard someone calling for help.
The incident occurred sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m., Sharum said.
A short time later, witnesses saw about three feet of the bow of the boat sticking out of the water, Sharum said.
The witnesses called 911. The Rowan Rescue Squad found the two men Sunday morning about 75 feet from the dock.
“The cold water at night can be disorienting,” Sharum said.
Harris’ family said he could swim, Sharum said. There was no information to confirm whether Milton knew how to swim.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
In addition to Rowan Rescue and the Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission the Miller’s Ferry, Gold Hill, Pooletown, Ellis Cross Country and Liberty fire departments also responded in the incident.