4 drownings, 34 BUIs reported in Georgia over holiday weekend
DNR reports four drownings over chaotic holiday weekend
A high-volume holiday weekend on Georgia's lakes and rivers has come to a tragic conclusion, leaving rescue crews across the state managing a wave of severe boating collisions, medical emergencies, and fatal drownings. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division officially released its final Independence Day holiday tracking brief on Monday afternoon. Game wardens recorded four drowning deaths, six major boating incidents, and 34 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests statewide during the high-density travel frame spanning Friday through Sunday.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens responded to multiple water emergencies across the state during the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend, with four drowning deaths and dozens of boating under the influence arrests reported from Friday through Sunday, according to their final report.
Fatal drownings
What we know:
According to the DNR's final holiday weekend report, game wardens recorded four drownings, 34 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests, six boating incidents and three injuries during the reporting period, which ran from July 3 through July 5. Officials reported no boating fatalities, meaning none of the deaths were directly attributed to boating crashes.
One of the drownings happened Sunday afternoon at Lake Allatoona in Bartow County. Authorities said Fidel Ojwang, 28, of Lilburn, entered the water from the back of a ski boat near Glade Marina at about 12:49 p.m. and never resurfaced.
RELATED: Lilburn man found dead early Monday after Lake Allatoona drowning
Game wardens, assisted by Bartow County Fire Rescue, immediately launched a search using boat-mounted SONAR. Additional personnel and equipment were brought in as crews searched through the evening. Just after midnight Monday, game wardens located Ojwang in approximately 60 feet of water using SONAR. His body was recovered with a remotely operated vehicle and turned over to the Bartow County Coroner.
The DNR report shows the drownings occurred across three enforcement regions, with Region 3 recording two drownings, while Regions 1 and 5 each reported one.
FOX 5 Atlanta previously reported the death of a 34-year-old man in Lake Sinclair early Friday. It has since been reported that a 14-year-old Kayden Weather of Eatonton has died by drowning. According to DNR, game wardens received a call at 7:19 p.m. July 4 about an unconscious teenager at Putnam Beach. When they arrived, they learned the teen had been swimming near the swim barrier when he went under. Bystanders pulled the teen from the lake and began CPR. He was transported to Putnam County General and then airlifted to Atrium Health Navicent Children's Hospital in Macon. He was pronounced deceased at 4:17 a.m. July 5.
PREVIOUS STORY: 1 dead in Lake Sinclair drowning; others injured in Lake Lanier boat crashes
Boating under the influence
What they're saying:
Lake Lanier saw the highest concentration of boating enforcement activity over the holiday weekend. Game wardens made eight BUI arrests there and responded to three boating incidents that resulted in one injury. Lake Allatoona had the second-highest number of BUI arrests with five, followed by Lake Oconee with four.
By the numbers:
Holiday weekend by the numbers
- 4 drownings
- 34 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests
- 6 boating incidents
- 3 injuries
- 0 boating fatalities (no deaths resulted from boating crashes)
What they're saying:
Georgia DNR reminds anyone enjoying the state's lakes and waterways to wear a life jacket, never operate a boat while impaired and always use caution when swimming, especially during busy holiday weekends.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Georgia Department of Natural Resources.