Friends Killed In Grand Lake Boat Crash Died Of Blunt Force Trauma, ME Says

The state medical examiner’s office has ruled the deaths of two people who died in a Grand Lake boating crash an accident, a spokesperson said on Friday.

Rachel Swetnam, 21, of Grove, and William Lewis "Trey" Varner III, 21, of Texarkana, Arkansas, died of blunt force trauma when 22-foot ski boat they were aboard crashed into a vacant 100-foot houseboat docked at Arrowhead Yacht Club on Grand Lake on Tuesday.

Swetnam died of blunt force trauma to the head and neck, and Varner’s cause of death is blunt force trauma to the head, said Amy Elliott, spokesperson for the ME’s office.

05/15/2013 Related Story: Grand Lake Residents React To Deadly Boat Crash

Swetnam and Varner were both students at the University of Arkansas. Swetnam was a Cascia Hall graduate, a former Miss Teen Oklahoma and the daughter of a northeastern Oklahoma surgeon.

The Grand River Dam Authority has identified the others in the boat as: John Deselms, of Tulsa, who was the driver of the boat; Taylor Perry, of Springdale, Ark.; Eugene DeVerges, of Tulsa; Bryce Banham, of Tulsa; Taylor Reynolds, of Plano, Texas; and Chad Scott, of Perry.

Deselms and Perry were taken to Craig General Hospital and were treated and released. Three others refused treatment at the scene and another had jumped from the boat before the crash and was not injured.

GRDA investigators said their investigation is expected to take two weeks. The investigation’s findings will be turned over to the district attorney.