TWRA: Boating fatalities on TN waterways in 2020 reaches 37 year high

Boating fatalities were up in Tennessee in 2020 for the first time in 37 years.

32 people were killed on Tennessee waterways last year, a sharp increase from the 2019 figures from the TWRA, when a record low eight people died in boating accidents. The state’s wildlife agency estimates around 30% of fatal accidents last year were caused by consumption of alcohol or drugs.

TWRA also added that 61 people received serious injuries resulting from incidents. Officers are offering safety tips to boaters in 2021, which includes wearing a life jacket at all times, know about boating safety and water conditions, and operate a boat sober.

Photo Courtesy: Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency