Investigation Continues Into Grand Lake Fatal Boat Crashes, Fire

July 4 was a dangerous holiday on Green Country lakes this year. Grand River Dam Authority Police are investigating several boating incidents on Grand and Hudson lakes that claimed the lives of two people and injured 13.

One person died around 2:30 p.m. on the Duck Creek arm of Grand Lake. Police suspect a boater died from carbon monoxide. Three other people involved in that incident were hospitalized.

Another person died in a crash later in the evening just south of Langley in the upper reaches of Lake Hudson. GRDA said a boater fell off the front of a pontoon boat and was run over and killed near the Highway 82 bridge.

7/4/2015 Related Story: 3 Accidents On Grand Lake Result In 2 Deaths, Multiple Injuries

GRDA also responded to a boat fire at Tera Miranda on Grand Lake that sent nine people to the hospital, three via medical helicopter. Witnesses say the people on board were fueling their boat when an explosion took place, catching the boat on fire. They saw people jumping off the boat after it left the dock.

During the July 4th festivities, neighbors who live near the marina saw the boat on fire. Heather Furgerson heard screams coming from the cove near her family's lake home.

She looked outside and saw a boat in flames. 

"That was kind of scary, kind of drifting this way a little bit," she said. "We didn't know if it's going to hit our docks or anything, and if it did, of course, that was probably going to catch on fire.

"Luckily the fire department got here in time. They just kind of used their water hose and then pushed it here on shore."

Dana Percefull lives next door.

"We really didn't know what to do," she said. "You feel kind of helpless watching it just burn - not being able to do something about it."

GRDA Communications Director Justin Alberty said the investigation into all three incidents is ongoing. They have not released names of any of the people involved in the boating accidents.