The number of holiday weekend BUIs on Georgia waterways more than doubled Saturday from Friday’s count, according to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Day 2 report Sunday. And the number for Lake Lanier increased to seven. In addition, there was another boating incident on the lake.
DNR Day 2 update (does not include those reported on Saturday. They are in the Earlier Story referenced at the end of Sunday’s update):
*Lake Lanier – Hall County – Boating Incident – At approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 4th, game wardens responded to a boating incident at Margaritaville on Lake Lanier in Hall County. After speaking with the witnesses, they learned that a cabin cruiser hit three boats while attempting to make a docking maneuver at a boat slip. After speaking with the cabin cruiser operator, it was determined that he lost power while making the maneuver causing the incident. The cabin cruiser operator was screened, and alcohol was not a factor.
*Lake Nottely – Union County – Boating Incident – At approximately 3:20 p.m. on July 4th, game wardens responded to a boating incident on Lake Nottely in Union County. Upon arrival, they learned that a 16-year-old was operating a PWC that was struck on its starboard side by another PWC with a 17-year-old operator. The younger operator sustained a leg injury and was transported to (the Gainesville hospital).
*Ocmulgee River – Pulaski County – Boating Incident – At approximately 9:30 a.m. on July 4th, game wardens, along with the Pulaski Sheriff’s Office and Pulaski Fire and Rescue, responded to a single boat incident near Sand Hammock Landing on the Ocmulgee River in Pulaski County. Upon arrival, the operator stated that he and his grandfather were traveling upriver when the motor struck an underwater rock causing the motor to rip off the boat. The boat began to take on water, but they were able to make it to the riverbank. Two individuals in another boat were passing and transported the two occupants in the sinking boat safely back to the landing. No injuries were reported.
EARLIER STORY. POSTED 12:45 P. SATURDAY: Two drownings and 3 boating incidents, two on Lake Lanier, marred the start of the July 4 weekend on Georgia’s lakes, ponds and rivers.
“While patrolling Lake Lanier Friday, according to a state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) report released Saturday, “game wardens observed Hall County Fire assisting an individual at Mountain View Park. Upon arrival, they learned that a male was operating a 20-foot center console boat with female passenger when they hit a large wake causing the passenger to fall and injure her left leg.” She was taken to the Gainesville hospital for treatment.
Friday night about 10:00, wardens responded to a boating incident after the fireworks show near the Athens Boat Club on Lanier in Dawson County. “Upon arrival, they observed two individuals in the water in a large debris field. They immediately rescued them from the high vessel traffic area. Other game wardens arrived on scene and checked on the safety of the remaining passengers and began investigating the incident.”
According to statements from the vessel’s operator and the occupants, a large wake came over the bow of the pontoon and broke the starboard bow seat compartment and paneling. There were no injuries reported, and it was determined that alcohol was not involved in this incident.”
Lake Sinclair claimed the life of a 34-year-old man, David Hoyt Glass of Albany, who drowned before daybreak. No other information on the incident was immediately available.
And on the St. Mary’s River, two occupants of a personal watercraft received non-life-threatening injuries when they were thrown from it when it hit a wave.
And there were 13 BUI arrests made statewide, two of them on Lake Lanier.