One Drowning, Several Incidents Reported on Area Lakes Over the 4th

It was a fairly busy holiday weekend for Georgia Department of Natural Resources Game Wardens on area lakes.

In the District 2 region, which includes Lakes Lanier and Hartwell, DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon said that as of 9a Sunday, there had been several incidents on Lake Lanier, one incident on Lake Hartwell and a drowning on Lake Rabun.

McKinnon said that at approximately 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Georgia game wardens responded to a possible drowning on Lake Rabun.

The victim had last been seen at 10:30 p.m. on July 5th, and the next morning his shoes and phone were located at the entrance of the boathouse on the lake property.

Shortly after the officers arrived on the scene, the subject was located in 40-50 feet of water, about 30 feet from the boathouse.

Just after midnight, Rabun County search and rescue personnel, along with a Towns County Diver, recovered the victim.

The body was turned over to the Rabun County Coroner. The victim was identified as Robert Clinkscales, age 39, of Dillard.

On Lake Hartwell, McKinnon said that on Friday, July 5th at approximately 6:30 p.m., Georgia game wardens responded to a boating incident on Lake Hartwell in which a PWC hit a wake near Long Point Recreation Area and the operator hit his head on the handlebar. He was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in Lavonia for treatment of a head laceration.

And on Lake Lanier on July 4th McKinnion said that Georgia game wardens responded to a personal watercraft (PWC) incident involving two PWCs at Buford Dam Park on Lake Lanier in Gwinnett County.

Once on scene, it was determined that both PWCs were rentals and that the individual who rented the PWC to the at-fault operator did not comply with laws and regulations.

That subject was arrested.

The operator of the at-fault PWC fled on foot before law enforcement arrived and was not located.

The three occupants of the other PWC were all transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville to be treated for lacerations, abrasions, and several fractures. McKinnon said that the investigation is ongoing.