The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reports that new charges have been filed in a fatal boat crash on Lake Lanier that occurred back in April of this year.
Steven Brent Parker, 32, of Cumming, is charged with two felonies: homicide by vessel, and serious injury by vessel. Parker was also charged with Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and reckless operation of a vessel.
Conviction on both felony counts would carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The collision on Lake Lanier killed one person and seriously injured another shortly before midnight on Saturday, April 21st.
According to the DNR, Parker was operating a ski boat that collided with a pontoon boat near Buford Dam (Lower Overlook Park) on the Gwinnett side of Lanier.
Stephen Blake Jones, 59, of Duluth, was operating the pontoon boat. Sharon Ezell of Milledgeville was also aboard.
Parker and his passenger, Ashley LeBlanc, of Cumming, swam from their damaged boat to shore and flagged down a motorist. Parker and LeBlanc were treated at a local hospital and released.
Rescuers found Jones’ body in the water. The pontoon boat with Ezell still aboard was found about 5 hours after the incident was reported. Ezell was taken in serious condition to an area hospital.
The DNR’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is continuing the investigation.
Col. Eddie Henderson, head of the agency’s Law Enforcement Section, said the incident is “another reminder that although boating is a safe and enjoyable activity, it can turn tragic in a split-second if boating safety laws are not followed. We strongly encourage all boaters to designate a sober operator if alcohol will be consumed on the boat.”
The initial response to the incident also involved Gwinnett County Fire, Gwinnett County Police, Forsyth County Fire and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
lakelanier.com thanks Melissa Cummings for this update.
