JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) While the Memorial Day weekend is considered the “unofficial start of summer,” it can also be a dangerous time on both the roads and area waterways.
A spokesperson for the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) told News Channel 11 there have already been eight fatalities on the water in 2024, the latest on Watts Bar Lake on Sunday.
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The TWRA reports all eight incidents have something in common: none of the victims were wearing a lifejacket.
“For whatever reason, they went down and did not come back up,” TWRA spokesperson Matt Cameron said. “So a personal floatation device would have probably made a difference in each one of those scenarios.”
Tennessee law states that boaters under the age of 12 must wear a lifejacket at all times, and adults need to have one within arm’s reach on a boat.
Cameron said another factor …