Five BUIs and two boating accidents were reported on Lake Lanier Sunday, according to the latest holiday weekend report from the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Spokesman Mark McKinnon said two of the BUIs were associated with the accidents.
“Game wardens responded to a boating incident on Lake Lanier near Port Royal Marina where a pontoon boat had run aground, resting completely on a shoal,” McKinnon said. “After verifying that there were no injuries, the officers spoke to witnesses and the operator of the vessel.”
They suspected that he may have been impaired, so a screening for BUI was conducted and he was found to be intoxicated. The pontoon was severely damaged, and the vessel had to be towed off the shoal.
Its operator was arrested for BUI and taken to the Forsyth County Jail.
The second incident occurred on the Hall County side of the lake. at the courtesy dock at Landshark Cove on Lake Lanier.
“According to witnesses and Margaritaville employees,” McKinnon said, “an individual attempted to move his vessel from a reserved spot and struck a nearby cabin cruiser. The subject then parked his vessel in a slip on a separate dock.
“Witness statements were collected, and the game wardens located the individual who caused the boat incident. He was arrested for BUI and obstruction of a law enforcement officer and transported to the Hall County Jail.”
Statewide, since the holiday weekend began, there have been at least eight BUI arrests. In addition to the five on Lanier, one has been reported in northwest Georgia and two in south Georgia.
The two accidents on Lanier are the only water-related incidents reported to game wardens and there have been no water-related injuries.