Crime & Safety
DNR: Speed Was 'A Major Factor' In Deadly Lake Lanier Crash
The victims were in a high-performance racing boat when they crashed and overturned on Friday, authorities say.
CUMMING, GA — Speed was a "major factor" in a Lake Lanier boat crash on Friday that killed four people, state authorities said Wednesday.
"It was a major factor -- just by the amount of damage that was done to the boat and also based on witness accounts," said Maj. Stephen Adams, with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources law enforcement division. "We felt like that initially, but we wanted to talk to witnesses and everything to be sure."
DNR rangers found the bodies of two male victims just after midnight Sunday. They were Arthur Gene McMahan, Jr., 46, of Mount Washington, Kentucky, and Anthony Reece, Jr. 44, of Columbia, Kentucky.
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The bodies of two female victims had been recovered late Friday.
They were identified as Melissa Renee McMahan, 45, and 44-year-old Tammy Reece.
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Investigators believe Arthur McMahan, who owned the high-end speedboat, was driving at the time of the crash.
The boat was a 388 Skater -- a high-performance, offshore racing boat, Adams said.
The crash happened just west of Cocktail Cove and the Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Officials believe the four victims were in town for the popular Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run.
A full investigation into all the causes of the crash is expected to take at least 30 days, according to Adams.
"What we don't know is, was this speed and they hit a wake, or speed and operator error -- he made a radical turn or something -- or was it a mechanical failure?" Adams said.
Adams said that when emergency crews arrived, 15-20 boats already were scrambling in the area of the crash, trying to help the victims.
"Although it was a tragic outcome, it's really good to see people trying to help others out," he said. "That was something that was very evident."
And while all the details of the case remain unknown, Adams said it's a good reminder to practice basic safety rules when on the water.
Always wear a life jacket, consider taking a boater safety course and remember that boating and alcohol don't mix, Adams said.
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