Four Lake Lanier Boaters Hospitalized After Fourth of July Incidents

Lake Lanier was the site of the only two boating incidents to happen in Georgia on the Fourth of July this year.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials said there were two incidents on the lake on Thursday that resulted in four people being sent to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. One of those incidents happened on the Gwinnett County portion of the lake.

The first incident was an accident that happened at about 1 p.m. at Buford Dam Park. Two personal water crafts collided with each other at the park.

“Once on scene, it was determined that both (Personal Water Crafts) were rentals and that the individual that rented the PWC to the at-fault operator did not comply with laws and regulations,” DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon said. “That subject was arrested. The operator of the at-fault PWC fled on foot before law enforcement arrived and was not located.”

There were three people on the other personal water craft that were taken to the hospital. McKinnon said they had lacerations, abrasions and several fractures.

The investigation into this incident was still ongoing as of Friday morning.

The second boating incident happened a short time later, at 2:30 p.m. at Burton Mill Park on the Hall County portion of the lake.

This incident involved a person jumping off the side of a vessel into shallow water. The person involved in the incident suffered a fractured rib so they were taken to the hospital.

In addition to the two incidents, DNR’s Law Enforcement Division reported three boating under the influence citations in its Gainesville region, which includes Lakes Lanier and Hartwell.

DNR will continue to release daily reports on holiday weekend boating incidents and drownings through Monday.