Lavonia Man Dies After PWC Accident on Lake Hartwell Friday

A Lavonia man is dead and his brother was charged after a fatal accident on Lake Hartwell over the weekend.

According to DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon, it happened around 11:45p Friday night near the Poplar Springs boat ramp in Franklin County.

He said initial reports were that two brothers were operating personal watercraft when they collided head-on.

Franklin County Coroner Scott O’Barr said the impact threw one of the brothers into the water.

O’Barr said prior to EMS and other rescue personnel arriving on the scene, some nearby fishermen heard the cries for help and were able to locate the victim and pull him from the water.

They then began CPR on their vessel until help arrived.

That victim has been identified as 27-year-old Phillip Ryan Samuels.

The PWC operator, a 20-year-old male, identified as 20-year-old Jonathan Dylan Samuels, was arrested for boating under the influence of alcohol (BUI) by DNR law enforcement and booked into the Franklin County Detention Center.

McKinnon said the incident is under investigation by the Georgia DNR Critical Incident Reconstruction Team (CIRT).

He said no additional information would be released until the investigation is completed.