For the second time in four days, the TWRA is investigating a fatal boating accident on public waters in upper East Tennessee.
Saturday morning before 9 a.m., a fisherman located the body of a man, Mark E. Simpson, 47, of Hiltons, Va., in shallow water near a bass boat at point 14 on the Watauga arm of Boone Lake in Sullivan County. While the vessel contains damage from impacting the shoreline or other obstruction, it is unclear whether it occurred before or after the operator was ejected. The victim was not wearing a life jacket when recovered and investigators have not yet determined the time of the accident. Rescue crews searched the shoreline for other occupants but have no knowledge of anyone else onboard. The accident remains under investigation by the TWRA.
Boone lake is about 30 feet lower than normal conditions for this time of year and will likely remain that way throughout the summer as TVA works to determine the cause of water seepage near the base of Boone dam. The low water level has exposed rocks, points, and other potentially hazardous obstructions that aren’t present under normal conditions. Boaters should be diligent in familiarizing themselves with the lake at this level and use extra caution when boating on Boone lake, particularly in low light conditions.
The TWRA is also investigating a fatal boating accident that occurred on Tuesday evening at the TVA John Sevier Fossil Plant dam where a man was killed when he and another occupant were ejected when their vessel was capsized by the dam’s turbulent waters.