What was supposed to be a fun day on the water ended in a deadly tragedy after a recreational boaters hit the water, which is an extremely popular time for boaters on Memorial Day weekend.
One boat sank and the other boat was badly damaged. After the collision, a total of nine people were carried in the boats. The two boats collided on Saturday morning near Oatland Island Wildlife Center, where the Wilmington River meets Richardson Creek, while traveling in opposite directions. According to a spokesperson from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
As per a statement from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the three corpses were found around 9 a.M. On Sunday, submerged in water that was 14 feet deep and in close proximity to one another. In the aftermath of the accident, three individuals were reported as being unaccounted for.
How many people died in the crash?
The collision resulted in the deaths of Robert Stephen Chauncey, a 37-year-old resident of Savannah, along with Nate, aged 17, and Zach, aged 23, who are the sons of Chris Leffler, aged 51, and his wife, Lori, aged 50, making a total of five fatalities.
Another person, who remains unidentified, also survived the crash on the boat with minor injuries. Aside from the five fatalities of Katie Leffler’s children, her daughter survived as well.
More: Four members of a Savannah family among five deceased in a boat accident on the Wilmington River.
What caused the accident?
The cause of the crash is still unknown, and an investigation is being conducted by the Critical Incident Reconstruction Team (CIRT) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to determine what happened during weeks 8 and 6.
Why was Mark Stegall arrested?
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Mark Christopher Stegall, a 45-year-old resident of Savannah, was charged with boating while intoxicated in relation to the incident. Stegall was identified as the person operating the boat that had Chauncey and another unidentified individual on board.
Nonetheless, DNR investigators have not established whether alcohol played a role in the incident.
Additional: Charges have been pressed in the boat crash on Wilmington River over Memorial Day weekend, leading to the devastating loss of five lives.
Leffler family, Stephen Chauncey remembered
Chris, Lori, Nate and Zach Leffler were commemorated in a tribute shared on Thursday.
Chris and Lori celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and renewed their vows in Hawaii last year, where their family enjoyed their most recent adventure. Whether playing board games, hiking, biking, or white water rafting, they cherished the time spent with their beloved family, making cherished memories on their vacation. They read it “in part.”
In the Chauncey’s family, it was said that Stephen was an American hero. He was a hero to his friends and family, as well as a hero to his little girl. He will be greatly missed, and his loss leaves a hole in the lives of many.
How common are boating accidents?
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, crashes with another vessel or an obstacle account for almost half of the boating incidents in Georgia.
Earlier this month, Joe Moore, a businessman from Savannah, was fatally struck on the head by an unidentified object. Additionally, he lost his life due to a collision between the boat he was on and an unilluminated channel marker located near the Savannah Yacht Club.
How can boaters stay safe?
Listen to the full podcast with Georgia DNR official Mark McKinnon here
The DNR possesses a compilation of regulations and procedures to ensure that individuals who engage in boating activities in Georgia have an enjoyable experience on the water while placing utmost importance on their well-being.
When boats of all types operate within 100 feet of people or shorelines, bridges, piers, or docks, the law requires all operators to slow down to idle speed, making it one of the most important rules.
When it comes to the proper way to overtake another boat, there are a specific set of regulations.
The Department of Natural Resources also promotes the utilization of life vests, particularly for youngsters.
According to the boating laws in Georgia, individuals who were born prior to January 1, 1998, and possess a valid identification card, such as a driver’s license or any other government-issued identification that includes a description of the individual, a photo, and the birthdate, are legally allowed to operate any boat or small vessel on state waters.
Can I boat under the influence?
The Georgia Boat Safety Act prohibits anyone from operating any sailboard, sail skis, personal watercraft, sailboat, or boat while intoxicated or under the influence of a similar device with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.
If an operator is found to be under the influence, he or she will be cited or charged with BUI and it is the policy of the authorities to “observe zero tolerance” as it pertains to boating while intoxicated. This means that if an operator is involved in an incident and passes sobriety tests, the law prohibits them from being charged with BUI, according to a Georgia DNR official.