TWRA officers responded to three serious boating incidents over the weekend. Incidents resulted in three life flights to area medical establishments.
The first incident occurred on Watts Bar, just north of King Creek in Roane County, around 6 p.m.
on Saturday. A 48-year-old Rockwood man entered the water from his boat, misjudging water depth. The boat propeller struck the man who sustained serious injuries. He was transported by helicopter to UT Medical in Knoxville. He remains in hospital in stable condition.
A second incident took place around 10 p.m. in Meigs County, near the Highway 58 bridge on the Hiwassee. Four individuals sustained injuries resulting in two adults transported after a two-vessel collision. The collision involved two individuals from Bradley County in a 16-foot Bayliner and four individuals from Polk County in a 20-foot Sylvan ski boat. One individual was transported by helicopter to Erlanger Medical in Hamilton County and one by ambulance to Cleveland Hospital. Both have been released.
The third incident occurred on Dale Hollow Lake involving a 17-year-old from Ohio. The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. CST near Willow Grove. The female was being pulled on a tube behind a rental boat when the tube flipped. She was transported to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville with back injuries and has since been released.
TWRA reminds all boaters of the importance of boating safety. Please review boating safety and boating regulations at tnwildlife.org before heading out on Tennessee waters.