On June 11th, 2023, I, Game Warden with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division (GA DNR LED) was conducting a routine patrol in Rabun County. I was contacted via phone by GSP dispatch at 17:59 hours. They explained that Rabun County dispatch was requesting DNR response for a boating incident on Lake Rabun. I was transferred to Rabun County dispatch to receive the details. They reported, teenage girl was thrown from a tube and was unconscious. The EMS unit was on scene but had not made contact currently. I was asked to make a land-based response. I informed both GSP Gainesville dispatch office and Rabun County that I would be in route.  

I arrived on scene. When I arrived, a teenage girl was being loaded into an ambulance by emergency personnel. I helped direct traffic as they departed to Lakemont, Georgia. They went to Fire House number four to meet the life flight helicopter. She was airlifted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia. I remained on scene. 

I observed six people at the top of a staircase that led to a boathouse on Lake Rabun. After determining that each of the girls were either in the vessel, or on one of the two tubes, I interviewed them collectively to better understand the incident.

 All accounts confirmed that while the vessel was engaged in towing two tubes, Victim was thrown from tube number one and struck by tube number two. Victim was observed to be face up and unconscious when the vessel approached her in the water. She was quickly recovered from the water passengers in the vessel. Operator then transported Victim to the boathouse and 911 was called. All report that Victim regained consciousness before reaching the boathouse. 

I walked down the stairs to the boathouse and found the vessel operator to be seated in a chair on the top deck. I asked Operator if he was the operator and he confirmed. I observed a large trash bucket filled with empty alcoholic beverage cans next to the doorway. I also smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverages while interviewing the group. I observed a red and white MasterCraft Prostar 190 secured to the side of the boathouse. The vessel had two tubes attached to the ski pylon in the center of the vessel. 

I then asked Operator to follow me to the top of the stairs so that I could ask him some more questions. Operator agreed and we walked to the top of the staircase. I waited a few minutes before questioning Operator about the incident. Operator stated that he saw Victim come off the tube in the mirror of the vessel. He stated that the amount of time that passed from the time she came off the tube to the time that he laid hands on her was thirty seconds and that was how long she was unconscious. Operator reported that one other person, and two other girls were sitting in the observer seat of the vessel next to him. 

Sergeant arrived on scene at 18:37. I then briefed Sgt. on what I knew at that time. At 18:47 hours I asked Operator if he had anything to drink that day and he stated yes. I started the boating under the influence screening interview form at 18:48 hours. While talking with Operator, I smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. Operator’s eyes were glassy and had equal pupil s
Lake Rabun