SMITH LAKE – On Friday morning, searchers resumed their efforts to locate a missing boater who disappeared on Smith Lake late in the evening of July 4, after a boating accident. A two-boat collision injured five individuals and led to the sinking of one of the boats.
At 6:45 a.m. Friday, ALEA released this updated statement:
“ALEA Marine Patrol Troopers are investigating a two boat crash that occurred on Smith Lake Thursday night. The crash occurred in Rock Creek at approximately 10:00 pm. There were 5 people injured, 4 of them were transported for medical attention. The severity of the injuries is unknown. There is one person still missing. Search efforts were suspended at 1:00 am. They are resuming this morning with multiple agencies assisting.”
The accident occurred in a part of Smith Lake which lies in Winston County, so Winston authorities and ALEA are handling the case. The Smith Lake Task Force, multi-agency group law enforcement agencies from Walker, Winston and Cullman counties, is participating in the effort. The access road closest to the site, though, lies in Cullman County; and Winston County has asked the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, which had a patrol boat on the lake yesterday, to assist again today.
In the area where the boater disappeared, Smith Lake approaches 160 feet in depth.
This is a developing story.
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