DNR officials towing bass boat involved in the boating related fatality on Lake Allatoona, 7-7-13.

The GA DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s final boating incident report for the Fourth of July holiday weekend brings news of a drowning and a boating related fatality on Sunday, July 7, 2013.

The fatal accident on Lake Allatoona took the life of Robert Lewis, 52, of Dallas, Georgia.

Mr. Lewis fell from his bass boat on Sunday morning.  The boat continued to travel in circles at full throttle for more than 15 minutes before running out of fuel.

DNR Ranger Mike Barr reminds us “an ignition lanyard stop switch, which is attached to the operator and automatically stops the engine, is a safety device” that can potentially prevent such accidents.

The boat hit Mr. Lewis — who was not wearing a life preserver.  He was unconscious when pulled from Lake Allatoona.

Melissa Cummings says the Bartow County Deputy Coroner confirmed the death of Mr. Lewis.  The DNR’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is in the process of investigating the accident.

DNR spokeswoman Melissa Cummings says the victim in the incident on Lake Lanier fell off a private dock and went into the water.  Unfortunately, the victim could not swim. Her husband went into the water to save her, but he could not swim either.  Both the husband and wife were pulled from the water.  The husband survived, but his wife — whose name has not yet been released — did not respond to EMS personnel who tried to revive her.

Statewide Boating Incidents for the Entire July 4th Holiday Weekend

• Drownings – 1
• Boating Under the Influence (BUI) – 13.  Three BUIs were on Lake Lanier.
• Boating Incidents – 10 (2-Lake Hartwell; 1-Lake Burton; 1-Lanier; 2-Clarks Hill; 1-Oconee; 2-St Marys River; 1-SW GA)
• Boating Incident Related Injuries – 8
• Boating Incident Related Fatalities – 1 on Lake Allatoona

The 2012 July 4th holiday weekend had no drownings or boating related fatalities. There were seven BUIs and three injuries from boating incidents.

We extend our condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives.