2 Drowned, 5 Injured on Georgia Waterways During Memorial Day Weekend

Two people drowned and at least five were injured on Georgia waterways during the Memorial Day weekend, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Here’s a preliminary report from the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division for Saturday-Monday:

Drownings: 2

• Eighteen-year-old Chance Werner, 18, drowned in Lake Allatoona after an accident at Dock D of Holiday Harbor Marina in Bartow County.
• William Brown drowned in the Atlantic Ocean near Tybee Island. His body was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by Tybee Island PD.

Boating Under the Influence: 32

• BUIs on some of the larger lakes include Allatoona, 1; Lanier, 10; Oconee,1; Clarks Hill, 3; Sinclair, 1; Jackson, 1.

Boating Incidents: 9

Rangers responded to 9 incidents.

• Lanier (5/24): PWC ran into a boat in Shoal Creek-0 injuries
• Lanier (5/25): Fire on a Pontoon-Bald Ridge Creek-0 injuries
• Lanier (5/25): Boat that Sank near Aqualand Marina-0 injuries
• Lanier (5/25): PWC and vessel collision near Van Pugh Park-2 minor injuries
• Hartwell (5/25): minor incident-0 injuries
• West Point (5/25): Tubing incident where a tuber was thrown off tube/injuring neck/shoulder
• Lanier (5/26): 15 year-old fell off a pontoon in Chestatee River area and was struck by boat (transported to NE Ga Medical Center)
• Lanier (5/26): Fisherman pushed his boat away from Lula Bridge and fell into water, inhaled water while under (transported to NE GA Medical Center)
• Lanier (5/26): Rangers working one incident in Burton Mill area (details not available)

Boating Incident Related Injuries: 5

Boating Incident Related Fatalities: 0

2013 Memorial Day Statistics

Drownings: 2

BUIs: 42

Boating incidents: 8

Boating-related injuries: 6