Three injured in Figure Eight Island boating accident

NEW HANOVER COUNTY -- Three people were injured when the boat they were in crashed into the Figure Eight Island Bridge.

The accident happened around 10 Monday night. One of those people is still in the hospital.

The accident involved a 24-foot Hydra-sport boat. A spokesperson for the North Carolina Wildlife Enforcement, who is investigating the case, says the boat belongs to one of the three injured people.

He and a female passenger have been released from New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

The third passenger, a man, is still in the hospital.

Malia Lehrer's family lives at the entrance of the island. She said, "We were saying, 'how could anyone hit the bridge?' I mean, it's kind of a fixture of our lives. It's pretty tall, it's very lit up and so we were a little shocked to think there could be something, a crash that big, that close to our house."

The three people on-board are not from Figure Eight Island, but all live in New Hanover County.

There's no word yet on whether alcohol was a factor.

Investigators say they'll have a better idea within the next few days.