JEFFERSON - Jackson County emergency officials Monday said a 51-year-old Athens fisherman drowned over the weekend in a small pond on Crooked Creek Road on the south end of the county.
Steve Nichols, the Director of the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency, said the accident happened around 3:15 p.m. Saturday. The victim's fishing companion reported the drowning.
"He said his friend was in a jon boat out in the lake, and the boat capsized, his friend went down, attempted to swim to the bank, but he eventually went down and he (friend) did not see him (victim) anymore," Nichols said.
The response included the Jackson County Dive/Rescue Team.
"They did a search of the area where the gentleman indicated the victim went down, and about 30 minutes later, they recovered a 51 year old male," Nichols said.
Nichols said the victim's life jacket had been left on the shoreline of the pond.
The victim is identified as Robert Eugene Pittman, according to Associated Press.
Nichols said the Jackson County Coroner's Office, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are investigating the accident.
Friday
April 26th, 2024
4:29PM
