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Georgia motorboat tragedy: Man arrested for BUI after death toll rises to 5, including 4 of family

The two vessels were reportedly carrying nine passengers when they collided on the Wilmington River near Savannah

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: Five people died after two motorboats collided on a southeastern Georgia river on Saturday morning, May 28. The two vessels were reportedly carrying nine passengers when they collided on the Wilmington River near Savannah. One person has reportedly been arrested in connection with the collision of the two boats.

Four of the five victims of the tragedy were members of the same family. The victims include Christopher David Leffler, 51, of Savannah; Lori Lynn Leffler, 50, of Savannah; Zachary James Leffler, 23, of Alpharetta, Georgia; Nathan Leffler, 17, of Savannah; and Robert Steven Cauncey, 37, of Savannah. Katie, the Lefflers' daughter, survived the collision along with her friend. The bodies of the victims were found in 14-foot-deep water.  

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Katie's aunt Susan Connell wrote on Facebook following the tragedy, "A tragic boat accident near Savannah took the lives of my beautiful and so very thoughtful niece and her loving husband, Lori and Chris Leffler, this morning. The bodies of their two sons Zack and Nate are still missing. Their daughter Katie Leffler and her friend survived the collision. They were a very close family and we are all in shock over this horrible thing. It’s so often said people who have passed were extraordinary or incredibly special, but in this case, these words are true. They all were thoughtful people and went out of their way to make you feel welcomed and loved. Four lights have been extinguished and the world will never be as bright without their smiles and their goodness. Our family will begin gathering tomorrow to honor these good people and to do what we can to help Katie through the worst days of her life. May the memories of this remarkable family always be a blessing. We loved you all so much."

The collision occurred in an area that is known to be dangerous, near the Oatland Island Wildlife Center docks where Richardson Creek meets the river. Following the tragedy, Mark Christopher Stegall, 45, also of Savannah, was arrested for 'boating under the influence' during the incident, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has said. Stegall's bond has been set at $3,500. Georgia DNR has said that the cause of the crash is unknown at present. The incident is under investigation.

Christopher David Leffler is a faculty member of Calvary Day School, which said in a statement, "We are saddened to report the death of our faculty member, Mr. Chris Leffler, and his wife, Lori, their sons, Zach and Nate who passed away from injuries sustained in a boating accident this weekend."

"We love the Leffler family and our hearts are broken. I want to thank all of the first responders and everyone who continues to pray for the Calvary community and the Leffler family. Everyone that knows them has seen faith in action. Chris, Lori, Zach, and Nate were loved by so many and will be missed dearly. Chris was great at building relationships with students, parents, and peers. He was an outstanding teacher, coach, and he was a friend. Nate, a Senior at Calvary Day, had a quiet demeanor, contagious smile, and passion for athletics. He was well-liked by his peers, was a great brother, and a loving son," Head of School, Dr. Hunter Chadwick, reportedly said. 

Following the incident, a good Samaritan reportedly alerted the Coast Guard at around 10:42 am. This prompted a rescue mission. Two people were initially found dead and three were missing. The missing people were later pulled from the river by Georgia and U.S. Coast Guard divers, raising the death toll to five. "partner agencies searching for 3 men after 2 boats collided in the Wilmington River, about 1.5 miles north of Thunderbolt Marina, Saturday. More to follow," USCGSoutheast had tweeted at the time.

Besides the dead, four people suffered minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital to be treated. At least one survivor is in good condition, the maritime security has confirmed. 

Sevreal Americans flock to river fronts and other coastal areas in the Memorial Day weekend to enjoy an outdoor experience at the beginning of summer. Beachgoers and boaters are always asked to maintain safety protocols while enjoying the water. However, this is not the first time there has been an accident on the Wilmington River. On May 5, a local businessman died when a boat he was aboard struck an unlit channel marker near the Savannah Yacht Club. Authorities said that the man was hit on the head by an unknown object.