Father and Son Killed in Jet Ski Collision with Barge
By Accident.NEWS
Publish Date: September 11, 2023
Both victims died
A tragic incident occurred on Saturday night in Cheatham County, Tennessee, resulting in the death of a man and his 9-year-old son. According to officials from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the pair were riding a jet ski when it collided with a barge on Cheatham Lake.
The preliminary investigation revealed that 36-year-old Steven White was operating the personal jet ski when it struck the barge being towed around 7:30 p.m. The accident took place near the Cheatham Dam Campground, approximately 36 miles northwest of Nashville.
Upon receiving a call at around 7:45 p.m., authorities immediately responded to the scene. A tow boat operator activated an alarm while deckhands launched a vessel into the water to assist White and his son. Unfortunately, despite wearing life jackets, White did not survive and was pronounced dead after being taken ashore at the campground boat launch.
The search for White's son continued throughout the night until 1 a.m., and then resumed again at 8 a.m. Sunday morning with multiple agencies involved. Tragically, on Sunday evening, authorities discovered the body of his young son.
Numerous organizations collaborated in this rescue operation including TWRA investigators who utilized remote operated vehicles (ROV) to search under barges. Additionally, cadaver dogs were deployed to identify potential search locations. Participating agencies included the Cheatham County Sheriff Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Army Corps of Engineers, and United States Coast Guard.
It is important for individuals engaging in water activities to prioritize safety measures such as wearing life jackets and remaining vigilant while navigating through potentially hazardous areas or near larger vessels.
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Tags: Fatality, Tennessee, Tragedy, Boatingaccident, Cheatham County, Jetskicollision, Bargeincident, Lakeaccident
Incident at a Glance
- Parties Involved:
- Steven White, 9-year-old son
- Vehicles:
- jet ski, barge
- Fatality:
- YES
- State:
- Tennessee
- City:
- Cheatham County
- Location:
- Cheatham Lake, 36 miles northwest of Nashville
- Date of Incident:
- 2023-09-09
- Time of Incident:
- 7:30 p.m.
Cheatham Lake, 36 miles northwest of Nashville
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