The news release from Georgia DNR Major Stephen Adams on July 16, 2016, provided the details of the tragic boating accident on Lake Lanier that claimed four lives in a single-vessel wreck that occurred near Cocktail Cove just before 4 PM on Friday, July 15th.
Major Adams could not capture the loss experienced by the friends of those who perished: Arthur Gene McMahan, Jr., age 46, of Mount Washington, KY, and his wife, Melissa Renee McMahan, age 45; and Anthony Reece, Jr., age 44, of Columbia, KY, and his wife, Tammy Reece, 44.
They were all visiting Lake Lanier to take part in the Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run in the McMahan’s Skater 388 catamaran — a racer with 850 horsepower — with their many friends.
According to the website Speed on the Water, here is an eyewitness account of the accident:
Matt Garland, who owns a 40-foot Skater, was following McMahan when the accident occurred and was the first person to jump in the water in an attempt to aid his friends.
“The boat was running about 200 yards ahead of us when we saw it flip,” Garland said. “The water was a little rough and they were making a slight turn when it went over. The accident was extremely violent. When we got our boat stopped, I immediately dove in the water and swam under the boat, which was upside down, to see if anyone was still in it. There was debris everywhere. It’s just such a tragedy.”
Organizers of the Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run event posted this on Facebook:
We would like to send our deepest thoughts and prayers to the families of those involved in an accident on Lake Lanier today. The accident involved part of our poker run family and we are with heavy hearts tonight.
The children of the McMahons offered this statement:
At this time we want to thank the community, friends and family for their ongoing love and support. Our parents meant the world to us, we never realized how much impact they had on people’s lives. They both were such amazing, loving and caring parents, grandparents, children siblings and friends to so many. They were one of a kind and will truly be missed. Thank you again for your continued prayers
The Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Rangers, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and the Hall County Fire Department took part in the recovery efforts.
DNR Law Enforcement’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team (CIRT) will be conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident that will take several weeks to complete.
We express our condolences to the families of those who perished in this tragic boating accident.
