WINTON – A late-night boating accident Saturday left five injured.

A call came in to the Hertford County 911 Center at approximately 10 p.m. that a boat on the Chowan River had been in an accident.

The original call indicated that one boat had struck another and there were a variety of injuries.

North Carolina Wildlife Officer Tim Wadsworth, who is in charge of the investigation, said both Winton Rescue and N.C. Wildlife put boats on the water to provide assistance.

“We found out they actually hit a stump of a tree that is laid over in the river,” Wadsworth said.

The officer said the stump wasn’t new and that most who regularly boat in that area of the Chowan River are aware of its presence in shallow water.

The United States Coast Guard originally responded to the scene as well, looking for a second boat and possible other victims.

“They were called in because the original call indicated they thought they hit another boat and thought people may be in the water,” Wadsworth said. “Once we became comfortable there was only one boat involved, they were called off.”

A total of six people were on the boat when the accident occurred, according to Wadsworth. Three were transported to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. Two more members of the party went to RCH on their own. None of the victims were identified by name due to an on-going investigation.

One of the three who were transported to RCH was later flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Wadsworth said a majority of the injuries were fractures, bruises and contusions.

The boat was still floating when emergency personnel arrived, but was taking on water. It was towed in.

The investigation into the accident is on-going. No charges have been filed thus far.