PULASKI COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE
Authorities have named the two man that died after a boating accident on Claytor Lake in Pulaski County.
Faron Gardner, 67, of Hillsville and Reginald Sizemore, 70, of Dublin were on Claytor Lake when their boats collided, according to the Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources.
A bystander saw the accident and tried to help by throwing one of the men a personal flotation device, authorities said.
Authorities said alcohol was not a factor in the accident, and neither of the men were wearing life jackets.
ORIGINAL STORY
Two people are dead after a boating accident on Claytor Lake, near Peak Creek, according to Conservation Police.
Now that two bodies have been found, police are not searching for any missing people.
Authorities were alerted to the incident at about 11:45 a.m. from someone who called saying that two fishing boats had collided, according to Pulaski Emergency Medical Services Deputy Director Shawn Hite.
Multiple agencies responded to Peak Creek, which is about half a mile away from where the incident took place on Claytor Lake.
Authorities are taking this opportunity to remind people to take precaution before venturing out on the water.
“Virginia waterway laws are all there for a purpose and wearing life jackets, taking the proper boating classes, things like that are always things we advise people to do,” said Hite.
Conservation Police are taking lead on the investigation.