The rainy weather and perhaps the price of gasoline kept boating and other activity down dramatically on Lake Lanier and the state’s other waterways during the Memorial Day Weekend.
The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports only five reported boating incidents statewide (none on Lanier) and four BUIs (two on Lanier).
Here’s a look at the boating incidents:
Region 2 – Lake Hartwell – At approximately 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, May 23rd, game wardens responded to a boating incident on Lake Hartwell involving a single personal watercraft (PWC) with two occupants. One of the occupants, a 7-year-old juvenile, sustained an injury to her right leg when she was thrown from the vessel. The operator of the PWC, an 18-year-old male, had not completed Georgia’s boating education requirements, and the PWC was not registered. Alcohol was not determined to be a factor. The operator was cited and the juvenile was transported to the hospital in Lavonia with non-life-threatening injuries.
Region 2 – Lake Hartwell – At approximately 4:55 p.m. on Sunday, May 24th, game wardens responded to a boating incident on Lake Hartwell involving a six-year-old juvenile who had injured her right hand. The incident occurred while the vessel was beached on an island at the mouth of Gumlog Cove when another juvenile pushed the victim off the beached vessel. While the victim was falling, her hand got caught on the vessel door causing the injury. The victim was transported to Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta for further treatment.
Region 3 – Lake Oconee – At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 25th, game wardens responded to Swords Landing on Lake Oconee after a ski boat came to the dock with an injured 8-year-old boy. The boy had a laceration on his head after falling in the boat while playing. The mother transported the boy to the Morgan Medical Center for treatment.
Region 5 – Chattahoochee River (Stewart County) – At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 25th, game wardens were notified of a vessel that had struck floating wooden debris while navigating the Chattahoochee River in Stewart County. The impact caused the operator to be thrown into a pedestal seat inside the vessel. As a result of the collision, the engine’s lower unit was dislodged, and the vessel’s transom was cracked. The subject later transported himself to the emergency room in Columbus complaining of neck pain.
Region 6 – Tidal creek in Bryan County – On Sunday, May 24th at approximately 2:10 p.m., game wardens responded to a vessel crash at the Waterways Community Dock, on Red Bird Creek in Bryan County. A vessel occupied by four adults and two juveniles was attempting to dock when the vessel struck an unoccupied, docked vessel, causing damage to both boats. The collision resulted in property damage exceeding $2,000. No injuries were reported.