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Passengers, crew member injured in North Carolina ferry accident

Posted at 2:08 PM, Dec 17, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-17 14:10:39-05

(CNN) — A passenger ferry ran aground Tuesday near Battery Island, North Carolina, injuring passengers and a crew member, the U.S. Coast Guard and the ferry line said.

Of the 31 people on board, one was flown to a hospital and 13 others were taken to regional hospitals, CNN affiliate WWAY reported.

The 64-foot boat came to a sudden stop at about 9 a.m., which threw people around, leading some to crash into tables, a passenger told WWAY.

The Adventure Ferry was heading from Southport to Bald Head Island at the time, CNN affiliate WECT reported.

The Coast Guard and other agencies responded to the scene.

The ferry transport was suspended until the Coast Guard determines the passageway is safe, said Joyce Fulton of Bald Head Island Limited, parent company of Bald Head Island Transportation, which operates the ferry.

As to why the ferry ran aground, she said, “We’re still in the fact-gathering mode.”

CNN’s Josh Levs contributed to this report.

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