Child Killed, Another Missing in Lanier Boating Collision

One child was killed and another is missing after a boating accident late Monday night on Lake Lanier.

Rick Lavender of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) told Cumming Patch that two boats collided about 10:30 p.m. Monday in the Shoal Creek area of Lake Lanier [near Lake Lanier Islands].

"The collision left a 9-year-old child dead and a 13-year-old missing," said Lavender. "Obviously we are continuing to investigate and at this point we are still searching for the 13-year-old."

WSB TV reported that emergency crews at the scene said, "A large fishing boat collided with a pontoon boat." As many as 13 people were on the pontoon boat. The other boat fled the scene, authorities said.

Lavender would not confirm at this time whether alcohol was involved in Monday night's incident.

But Melissa Cummings with DNR did state in an e-mail to Cumming Patch, "An arrest has been made of the driver of the boat that struck the pontoon."

This comes on the heels of an accident on . Authorities continue to urge caution on the lake as the boating season picks up. Last year there were 11 fatalities on Georgia lakes and 109 boating accidents. There also were 168 boating under the influence arrests.

Patch will have more updates on this incident.

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Sharon Swanepoel contributed to this article.