Crime & Safety

Man Believed Drowned, Teen Injured in Separate Lake Lanier Boating Accidents

A girl is cut by a boat's propeller. In another case, a man is missing after jumping from a sailboat.

A man is still missing and believed drowned after jumping from a sailboat, and a teen girl was cut by a boat propeller in separate Lake Lanier incidents Saturday (Aug. 18).

MAN MISSING AFTER JUMPING FROM BOAT: WSB-TV reported that Atlanta resident Jeffrey Nause, 44, jumped from a sailboat into the lake waters about 12:30 a.m. Saturday. He was with a woman and another couple near Lake Lanier Islands.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials (DNR) officials said they had to suspend the search Saturday due to the high volume of traffic on the lake, and the search was expected to resume Sunday. DNR spokesperson Mike Burgamy said alcohol may have been a factor in this case, which is being investigated by the DNR and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the case is being investigated as an accidental drowning.

GIRL CUT BY BOAT PROPELLER: According to Fox5 Atlanta, a 17-year old girl was pulled under a boat and cut by the propeller Saturday afternoon (Aug. 18). A DNR spokesperson said that the girl was sitting on the front of the boat, which was pulling a person on an inflatable tube.

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The pilot of the boat stopped after the person fell off, and the boat then hit a wave. That caused the girl to fall from the boat into the water, and she eventually went under the boat. Officials say she was cut several times from her shoulder to her hamstring by the propeller.

DNR rangers say the boat did not have a front retainer. That violation is considered a misdemeanor, and charges are pending. The girl was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center, and was reported alert and stable. Names of the girl and the boat operator are being withheld.

OTHER INCIDENTS THIS SUMMER: These accidents are the latest in a string of incidents this summer at Lake Lanier. In June, when the boat on which they were riding was hit by another boat. when he suffered head injuries after being hit by a jet-ski operator. He later died after being removed from life support.

-- Again, the question: Do you feel safe on Lake Lanier? Share your thoughts in the comments below.


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