Georgia boat crash kills five, man arrested for boating impaired

(Reuters) -5 individuals had been killed after two leisure boats collided head-on in a Georgia river on Memorial Day weekend, and one of many drivers was arrested for boating underneath the affect, authorities within the U.S. state stated on Sunday.

Two individuals had been confirmed deceased instantly following the crash on Saturday morning, Georgia’s Division of Pure Sources stated. 4 passengers had been injured and transported to a hospital, whereas three others had been declared lacking, it added.

Georgia and U.S. Coast Guard divers recovered the three victims’ our bodies on Sunday from the underside of the Wilmington River close to the coastal city of Savannah, the division stated.

The Coast Guard stated divers had recovered the our bodies of a 37-year-old male and two 20-year-old males, final seen sporting swim fits and no shirts. They had been found 14 toes (4.3 m) deep within the water and in shut proximity to one another, it stated.

A forty five-year-old man, Mark Christopher Stegall, of Savannah, “was arrested for boating underneath the affect within the incident,” the division stated in an announcement.

“The reason for the crash is unknown and is underneath investigation,” it added.

Memorial Day weekend, which culminates in ceremonies to honor U.S. army useless, sees many Individuals flock to seashores, river fronts and different coastal areas to benefit from the open air at first of the summer season season.

Video confirmed a Coast Guard helicopter hoisting injured passengers from a large river expanse. One of many injured passengers was in good situation, the Coast Guard stated. The situation of the opposite three injured was not instantly clear.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub; Modifying by Mark Porter)