Memorial Day Weekend Free of Boating-Related Fatalities for Third Consecutive Year

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reporting that there were no boating-related fatalities reported over the 2013 Memorial Day holiday weekend. It marks the third consecutive year that the unofficial weekend start to the summer boating season has been free of boating fatalities.

During the Memorial Day holiday period from Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27, there were eight total reported boating accidents for the second straight year. Three of the accidents resulted in injuries and the other five were property damage accidents.

TWRA officers made 11 boating under the influence (BUI) statewide arrests, three of the arrest resulting from boating accidents. The BUI arrests were a decrease of 11 from 2012 Memorial Day weekend.

There have been nine boating-related fatalities in Tennessee. There were seven fatalities at this time last year.