Spike in Incidents at Allatoona Lake Keep DNR Officers Busy

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As temperatures soar into the mid 90s across metro Atlanta and north Georgia, a spike in boating activity -- and incidents -- is keeping those tasked with patrolling state waters on their toes.

It’s never a dull moment during the summer months for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, and the agency has responded to a steady stream of incidents at Allatoona Lake in Cherokee and Bartow counties.

DNR Sergeant Mike Barr, Corporal Brooks Varnell and Ranger First Class Zack Hardy recently responded to a call of a car that had plunged into the lake near I-75 in Bartow County, according to the agency’s Facebook page.

With the help of a local dive team, the vehicle was pulled from the lake. In an unusual twist, it turns out the car had been reported stolen by its owner.

On June 9, Cpl. Byron Young worked an incident in which two men were ejected from a 19-foot bass boat. The boat turned hard left and capsized when the operator took his hands off the wheel. The boat was running at full throttle.

Fortunately, the two men survived, despite the fact they were not wearing personal flotation devices, DNR notes.

A few days later on June 13, RFC Bart Hendrix and RFC Micheal Crawley responded to a tubing incident at Holiday Harbor Marina. A female suffered fractured ribs while enjoying the waters at the facility.

The following day, Sgt. Barr, Cpl. Young and RFC Hardy responded to two separate incidents on Allatoona: a sunken ski boat near the U.S. 41 Campground in Bartow County and boat fire at Sweetwater Campground just west of Canton in Cherokee County.

After the engine backfired, a male subject was forced jumped from the his burning vessel and swim to shore. The vessel was a total loss.

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Photo credits: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division’s Facebook page