|
2008-06-26  FORSYTH HERALD | Four drown in Lanier over Fourth of July weekend
|
|  |
July 06, 2008
FORSYTH COUNTY – Four young lives were cut short when a 17-year-old Duluth man, a 14-year-old New Yorker and two Alpharetta friends in their early 20s drowned in Lake Lanier in three separate incidents over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to Forsyth County and Department of Natural Resources authorities.
The first victim, identified as 17-year-old Aeriel C. Chaudjay of Duluth, died just before 2:30 p.m. on Independence Day. According to the Forsyth Sheriff's Office, he drowned at Little Ridge Park off Lanier South Beach. Authorities said Chaudjay was wading in the lake with three friends and his uncle when he decided to go farther from shore. There was a drop off of 15 feet and the native Guatemalan did not know how to swim, according to witnesses.
Deputies said the teen's friends did not realize he was in trouble, instead looking for him on land for nearly 30 minutes before discovering he was in the lake. A Forsyth Fire Department dive team found his body a few minutes after 3 p.m.
Authorities believe no alcohol or foul play was involved.
The next evening a 14-year-old in town from East Meadow, N.Y., visiting with friends and family drowned near Little River Park in Hall County.
Jennifer Barnes, a spokeswoman with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said Dago Mejia started off fishing and swimming with friends and family at the park in knee deep water, but soon waded out deeper.
A swift drop off in the depth of the water claimed the life of the teen, who witnesses said could not swim.
Again, alcohol and foul play are not suspected.
Later that night two men died after a boating accident. Deputies said Lung Mang, 21 and Tha Thang, 23, both of Alpharetta, drowned around 11:30 p.m. after the rented pontoon boat they were riding in hit a concrete anchor in Lake Lanier near Port Royale, formerly Lan Mar Marina.
The accident was caused by a lethal combination of low water levels, low swimming ability, a lack of life vests and the boat's captain being partially blinded by the heavy wind and rains, authorities believe.
Karleen Chalker, a spokeswoman with the Forsyth County Sheriff's office, said the crash is still under investigation. However, she said it appeared after hitting the "concrete boulder" used to anchor the docks, the boat washed up on an exposed sandbar. Both would normally be covered with water.
The crash was likely the result of the "terrible storm" raging at the time, she said, which decreased visibility and pushed the boat into waters unfamiliar to its operator.
"The lake is so low, that was obviously [also] a contributing factor," said Chalker.
Mang, his brother and Thang got out and tried to push the boat off the sandbar. When it left, they fell into the water, Barnes said. Only Mang's brother made it back.
Six other people on the boat – none of whom were wearing a life preserver – were able to reach shore safely. One was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for a cut to his foot and later released.
Mang and Thang's bodies were found Sunday morning, July 6, in about 10 feet of water near the crash site.
Witnesses on scene told deputies the pair could not swim. A rescue mission involving the Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol, Fire Department Dive Team and Department of Natural Resources was launched immediately. It was called off about 1 a.m. due to poor conditions.
The mission resumed the next morning shortly before 9 a.m. The men were found about an hour later about 20 feet from the shoreline.
The boat has been impounded, said Chalker. Barnes said the driver was not impaired at the time of the crash.
Chalker said the weekend's tally was the highest she could recall in her 11 years at the Sheriff's Office.
Capt. Jason Shivers, a spokesman with the Forsyth County Fire Department, said it's important the public understands the effects of the drought on Lanier. He said the sudden drops in water depth that claimed each victim is a new phenomenon to most boaters and swimmers who believe themselves familiar with the venerable recreation spot.
"This is not the lake people are used to," he said.
- www.northfulton.com
| |
Reader Comments
These are our reader's opinions and thoughts.The opinions on this site are posted by our readers, and are not edited by Appen Inc.
wow
July 08, 2008 | 11:08 PM
i am speechless. don't know what to think about you james. that is about the most cold-hearted thing i have heard uttered in a very very long time. you got any children, grandchildren, or nieces or nephews? what if they accidently died.... how would you feel if someone said "well, they shouldn't have ......"
pray some dude
Can't understand
July 08, 2008 | 11:32 AM
Why would some one the age of these boys knowing they couldnot swim be in the water or even on the lake without life preservers?It is my understanding tht when a boat is rented it comes with them stowed on board.So In my opinion this was a Case of unplanned suicide by the two
james W.Cox
| |
|
|
