Two serious water-related incidents investigated Friday

Published 11:55 am Monday, June 22, 2020

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North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Law Enforcement Division investigated two serious incidents on the water Friday, one in Currituck County involving a fatality and the other in Hatteras involving serious bodily injury.

In Friday’s Currituck County incident, Sergeant John Beardsley with NC Wildlife Law Enforcement stated that Kitty Hawk resident Kenneth R. Miller died as a result of jumping from a disabled personal watercraft into shallow water in Poplar Branch Bay. Beardsley also confirmed that Miller was an employee of a rental business conducting a tour.

“An autopsy has been requested to determine the cause of death,” stated Beardsley.

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Assisting agencies included the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, Currituck EMS and the Lower Currituck Fire Department Station 5. Investigations continue in this case.

In the Hatteras incident, NC Wildlife Law Enforcement stated that Patrick Rasmus of Virginia was operating an open motorboat on the Pamlico Sound near Oden’s Dock on Friday. Passenger Erik Rasmus, also of Virginia and brother of the boat’s operator, was riding on the bow of the boat when he fell and was ran over by the vessel. He was transported to Norfolk General for serious lacerations to his legs caused by contact with the vessel’s propeller.

Operator Patrick Rasmus was charged at the scene with careless and negligent operation of a motorboat resulting in serious injury.

“The NC Wildlife Law Enforcement would like to remind boaters to sit within the passenger compartment of all vessels and to stress the importance of wearing a life jacket any time one is in the water,” stated the NCWRC Law Enforcement press release.

Assisting agencies for Hatteras included Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Dare EMS Station 3 and Hatteras Rescue Squad.

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