Over the 2024 Memorial Day weekend, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reported a tragic boating incident resulting in one fatality. The incident took place on Watts Barr Reservoir, where a 19-year-old male leaped from a boat and failed to resurface. Authorities were alerted to the situation just after 9 p.m., and after an extensive search, the young man’s body was recovered from 24 feet of water around 2 a.m. on Sunday with the help of a remote operated vehicle. The TWRA, along with local agencies, are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
This fatality marks the eighth boating-related death in the state this year. Additionally, there were five reported injury incidents and eight cases of property damage over the holiday weekend, with the majority of property damage incidents occurring in the Middle Tennessee region.
TWRA wildlife officers were vigilant in enforcing boating safety laws, making a total of 13 arrests for Boating Under the Influence (BUI) during the weekend. The arrests were distributed across the state, with six in East Tennessee, five in Middle Tennessee, and two in West Tennessee. Furthermore, TWRA officers provided assistance to several stranded boaters throughout the weekend.
Despite adverse weather conditions in some areas affecting boating activities, the TWRA maintained a strong presence statewide. While storms and heavy rains impacted boating traffic in certain regions, other areas experienced the typical high volume of holiday weekend boaters. The TWRA’s efforts to ensure boating safety and respond to emergencies were evident throughout the holiday period.