Divers suspended their search on Wednesday for a 13-year-old boy who remains missing following a deadly boating accident on Lake Lanier.
Griffin Prince went missing after the boat he and his family were riding on was hit by another boat late Monday night.
Griffin's 9-year-old brother, Jake Prince, was killed in the accident. Authorities say Griffin is presumed dead. Three other people onboard the pontoon were also injured.
According to Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials, the boys' father, Michael Prince, was driving a pontoon boat carrying 12 other people when they were hit by another boat. The accident happened around 10:30 p.m. in Shoal Creek. DNR officials say the boat that hit them was speeding, and the driver-- 44-year-old Paul Bennett of Cumming-- has been arrested and charged with boating under the influence. Other charges may be forthcoming, officials say.
The Prince family is from Buford, and the mother was also injured. She and two other children were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center to be treated for their injuries. Authorities say people from four different families including the Princes were riding on the pontoon boat.
Bennett was arrested at the Bald Ridge Marina in Forsyth County early Tuesday morning. He posted $5,000 bond on Tuesday. Some of his neighbors told FOX 5 that he lived with his wife and daughter for about 10 years in Cumming, but he moved out of the house several months ago. Bennett owns a hair salon located in Johns Creek.
Dive teams searched for Griffin Prince on Tuesday, but did not find his body. They say recovery efforts resumed in the water just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, with the DNR and Hall County teams taking part. They're using the DNR's side-scan sonar, a device used to find and identify objects underwater, to help with their search. They say they searched all night from the surface.
As the search continues, investigators are conducting a review of physical evidence found on both boats and they attempt to reconstruct what happened. Authorities have not yet talked with the Prince family as they say they are trying to give them space to cope with the loss of their two children.
Maj. Stephen Adams of the DNR says a good bit of boat traffic on the lake is making it more challenging to secure the search area and run sonar. He says divers are encountering water that is between 60-130 feet deep and very cold. Coupled with standing timber and near-zero visibility, it makes for dangerous conditions.
Maj. Adams says no other charges will be filed in the case until the incident report and investigation are complete, and that could take 30-45 days. The DNR is currently in talks with the district attorney's office.
Eventually, however, Bennett could be charged with failure to render aid or homicide by vessel, or both.
Divers will resume their search at 7 a.m. on Thursday.
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Divers returned to the waters of Lake Lanier on Wednesday to search for 13-year-old Griffin Prince.
