Man Drowns in Lake Lanier on Labor Day

A Labor Day outing at Lake Lanier ended tragically for a 25-year-old Doraville man. 

Authorities say Kyle Miller was swimming across a cove at the day use area of Van Pugh Park with two other people on Monday, Sept. 3 when he became fatigued and went under. According to Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks, public information officer for the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Miller's absense was not immediately noted resulting in a delay of almost one hour before emergency services personnel were called to the scene.

Miller's body was recovered approximately 20 yards from the shoreline in about 15 feet of water by the Hall County Dive Team at about 4:22 p.m.

The incident remains under investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division, Wilbanks added.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division, the drowning was one of two statewide over the holiday weekend.

A 53-year-old Millen man drowned Sept. 2 on the Ogeechee River near Rocky Ford in Screven County. Johnny Lockett was reportedly wading and swimming in the river. His body was recovered early Monday afternoon.

The DNR also responded to seven incidents of boating under the influence, five boating incidents (four on Lake Lanier) and four boating incident related injuries (all non-life threatening and all on Lake Lanier).

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