On Saturday, April 15th, 2023, at approximately 1810 hours, I, Corporal, with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Law Enforcement Division Critical Incident Reconstruction Team, was contacted by GA DNR LED CIRT Supervisor in reference to a boating incident resulting in a drowning on Lake Jackson in Butts County at approximately 1630 hours.  Sgt. told me to make contact with Game Warden for details and a meeting location at Lake Jackson to assist with recovery efforts.  I made contact with GW and he said the incident was a single vessel pulling two occupants on an inflatable tube when one of the occupants fell off the inflatable tube and did not resurface.

At approximately 1935 hours, I arrived. Upon arrival, Butts County Fire Department Dive Team and Butts County Sheriff’s Office were removing the drowning victim, Victim, from the lake and turning him over to the Butts County Coroner.  

I met with Game Wardens to gather the information they had and photograph the vessel.  GW said Victim was recovered at 1928 hours in 13 feet of water by the Butts County Fire Department Dive Team, and they collected witness statements and information from each occupant on the vessel.  

GW said the operator of the 2022 Bentley Navigator pontoon boat rented the vessel from MJ Marketing and Management LLC., and, according to text messages between Operator & Rental company rep, had watched the required safety video before operating the rented vessel.  Rental company rep provided Operator with a Vessel Rental Education Certificate upon completion of the course.  Operator was operating in a northwest direction on Lake Jackson with three adult males as passengers in the vessel.  

Operator was also towing one adult male, Victim, and one juvenile male on an inflatable tube behind the vessel.  GW said Victim was not wearing a United States Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device while being towed on the inflatable tube and sent me a photograph of Victim on the inflatable tube without a PFD that he received from Butts County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant.  

Based on interviews, witness statements, physical evidence, and the investigation, the facts show Operator was towing an inflatable tube, occupied by Victim and one other, and Victim was not wearing a USCG approved PFD.  The vessel was decreasing in speed, which caused the inflatable tube to tip forward.  As the tube tipped forward, Victim fell off the tube and drowned as a result.

Lake Jackson
JACKSON                       