July 4th Boating Accidents Injure Dozens in Georgia

During the July 4th holiday, Georgia experienced a spike in boating accidents, resulting in 18 injuries, 22 boating under the influence citations, and two fatalities, according to the Department of Natural Resources. A boat explosion near Margaritaville at Lake Lanier injured seven people, ages 5 to 45, all hospitalized with serious burns but later reported stable. Another explosion on Lake Nottely also left seven people injured, while a 13-year-old girl was struck by a boat propeller on Lake Allatoona. The causes of the explosions are under investigation, with the Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office reviewing the Lake Lanier incident. In Massachusetts, a 13-foot Boston Whaler spun out of control on the Merrimack River, but both people thrown overboard were safely rescued without injuries. These events underscore persistent boating safety and operational risks on busy holiday weekends.