Dallas Man Dies in Boating Accident on Allatoona Lake

A Dallas man is dead after a boating accident left him in the water at Allatoona Lake in Bartow County Sunday morning.

Robert Timothy Lewis, 52, of Dallas, died after the boating accident, according to the Bartow County Deputy Coroner. His family has been notified, according to Melissa Cummings of the GA Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Communications Office.

DNR Rangers answered an emergency call about a person in the water who was hit by a boat at 10:30 a.m. today, July 7.

DNR Rangers responded along with Bartow Fire and Rescue, Bartow EMS, and the Allatoona Corp of Engineers Rangers to the site near Allatoona Landing, according to the DNR's Mike Barr.  The man was removed from the water by rescue personnel with citizens' assistance. He was not wearing a lifejacket.  He was transported from the scene by Bartow EMS and later pronounced dead by the deputy coroner.

The DNR Rangers found the bass boat circling at full throttle without anyone onboard.  Emergency personnel cleared out the area to avoid the unmanned boat hitting another vessel or person. It took more than 15 minutes for the unmanned boat to run out of gas.

The DNR Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is investigating the incident.

According to the DNR's Barr, lifejacket use is mandatory for children under the age of 13 while a vessel is in motion, and a good idea for use by adults.  The DRN also recommends an ignition lanyard stop switch, which is attached to the operator and automatically stops the engine, as a good safety device for boat operators to use.