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All four victims in Friday boat accident identified
boat-crash WEB

The bodies of the remaining two people missing from Friday's boat overturning on Lake Lanier were recovered overnight.

Arthur Gene McMahan Jr., 46, of Mount Washington and Anthony Reece, Jr., 44, of Columbia, were found in about 90 feet of water by Georgia Department of Natural Resources rangers, according to a DNR release Sunday morning.

The state’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is continuing to investigate the incident, DNR Maj. Stephen Adams said Sunday.

Melissa Renee McMahan, 45, of Mount Washington, Ky., and Tammy Reece, 44, of Columbia, Ky. were located with sonar and recovered Saturday morning.

A call came in to Hall County 911 before 4 p.m. Friday of a single-vessel incident just west of Cocktail Cove on the southern end of Lake Lanier.

DNR, Hall County Fire Services and Forsyth County authorities responded to the scene, where they found a 38-foot, tunnel-hull, racing style vessel partially submerged. Other boaters attempted to help, Adams said.

According to witnesses, the boat was traveling southbound near Cocktail Cove when it overturned.

DNR Law Enforcement’s Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is conducting an investigation into the cause of the incident.

The preliminary information, Adams said, was that the boat encountered a wake before overturning.

“It was traveling down the lake at a decent speed,” Adams said.

The occupants of the boat were involved with the Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run, which was held Saturday. Participants held a memorial procession prior to the event.