ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. (WNCT) — The owner of a boat that ran aground in Atlantic Beach last Saturday is facing charges.
Officer Stewart Abrams with NC Wildlife said Joseph Rivenbark is facing several charges, including operating a vessel in a reckless or negligent manner. Abrams said the boat, named Full Cry, was on autopilot when it crashed.
Abrahms told WNCT’s Courtney Cortright in an email that “Rivenbark wasn’t paying attention and he might have fallen asleep” when the boat crashed onshore. Two people were hurt. They were taken to a local hospital and are now OK.
Officials also said nothing was wrong with the boat and there were no signs of alcohol. It participated in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament two weeks ago with Rivenbark as captain of the boat.
On the tournament’s final day, it was one of three boats that brought in a blue marlin that weighed under 400 pounds, the tournament minimum weight.
