On July 20, 2023, at approximately 18:50, Game Warden (GW) and I (Game Warden Corporal) were notified of a boating accident that had occurred on Lake Lanier.  We were informed that a vessel had capsized, and two occupants were onboard.  Both occupants had been rescued by Hall County Fire, one of which was injured and was being transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton.  We responded to Aqualand Marina and were going to respond to the vessel’s location.  However, while entering Aqualand Marina there was significant damage and debris that closed the road from a storm that had recently passed through.  We did not make it to the vessel’s location.

GW1 was able to speak with a passenger on the vessel.  She stated that the vessel had capsized, and they were thrown in the water.  Subject1 informed us that the operator had received a laceration to his leg and had pain in one ankle.  I asked Subject1, what had caused the vessel to capsize?  Subject1 said that wind and waves from the thunderstorm had overturned the vessel.  GW1 then told Subject1 that she needed to contact Tow Boat and have the vessel secured.  Our knowledge of the vessel at this point was that it was not secured and could float away during the night possibly causing an accident.  

The following day, I spoke with the owner of the vessel.  Owner informed me that they had gotten the vessel out of the water.  I asked him some general questions about the vessel for my report and he sent me the insurance information through a text.  I asked what was the damage estimate for the vessel?  Owner replied that it was a total loss.

I then asked Operator to explain what had happened.  Operator said that on the day of the incident July 20th, he and Subject1 were on the vessel (2013 Avalon and Tahoe pontoon boat Ga Registration) anchored in a cove near Paradise Point.  

At approximately 17:45, Operator said he noticed the sky beginning to get dark and decided to pull the anchor and go back to the marina at Safe Harbor.  However, the anchor was hung up and Operator said he cut the anchor rope.  Once underway he came out of the cove and headed east in Flowery Branch Creek towards Safe Harbor Marina.  Operator said the waves were white capping and the wind was blowing hard.  The vessel then capsized because of the winds and waves caused by the thunderstorm.  

This occurred west of McEver Bridge in Flowery Branch Creek.  Operator told me, him and Subject1 were not wearing PFDs at the time.  After the vessel capsized, they both were able to get ahold of the vessel and stayed with the vessel till it was pushed ashore by the waves.  Once the vessel made it to shore, Operator said his leg received contact between rocks and the vessel.  

Once both were safely out of the water, Subject1 mentioned to Operator that his leg was bleeding.  Operator said the vessel was then just rocked back and forth by the waves on the rocks causing extensive damage.  Shortly after Hall County Fire arrived and Operator was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton.  Operator said once at the hospital, he was checked out and received five stitches to the laceration on the inside of his leg and 11 stitches to the outside laceration.  He was then released.  Subject1 was not harmed, only shook up during the incident.

Lake Lanier
FLOWERY BRANCH                