Boating Accident on Hartwell Leads to BUI Charges

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A Columbia, South Carolina man is out on bond after being cited for boating under the influence on Lake Hartwell over the weekend.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement officer Craig Fulghum said it happened just after midnight Sunday between the Big Oaks Recreation Area and the Hartwell Dam.

“On May 29th at about 1:50 a.m., Hart County 911 received a call from individuals in the Big Oaks area that a boat had hit the rock embankment,” Fulghum said. “Hart 911 contacted DNR, Hart EMS and the Hart County Sheriff’s office to be enroute. When we arrived there was a ski boat, about 21-22 feet in length, that was fully up on the rocks, no water beneath it.”

Fulghum said two people were in the boat and suffered minor injuries and were treated by Hart County EMS on the scene.

He then said that during the accident investigation, investigators came to believe that alcohol may have played a role in the wreck.

“Our investigation led us to believe the subjects were under the influence of alcohol. One individual refused a field sobriety test. After he was arrested and implied consent was read, we were able to draw blood from that individual and it was sent to the GBI Crime Lab for toxicology results,” Fulghum said.

Fulghum said witnesses told both DNR and Hart County Sheriff’s Office investigators that the individual was the driver of the boat.

He is identified as 27-year old Thomas J. Twehues of Columbia, South Carolina.

Twehues is charged with Boating Under the Influence and Boating without Proper Lights.

He was taken to Hart County Jail where he bonded out later Sunday.