From Tribune staff reports
CEDAR BLUFF — An outing on Weiss Lake turned tragic Saturday night when a personal watercraft left the water and struck a tree, killing the operator, according to Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama law Enforcement Agency.
Photo via Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Facebook
“A marine-related event involving a single vessel occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20, and has claimed the life of a Summerville, Ga., man,” Burkett said. “Daegen P. Vaughn, 19, was fatally injured when the 2021 Yamaha WaveRunner he was operating ran aground and struck a tree.”
Vaughn was pronounced deceased at the scene. Another man, 22, also of Summerville, Ga., a passenger on the WaveRunner was injured during the crash and was transported to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Ga., for treatment.
Both Vaughn and the passenger were using a personal flotation device at the time of the crash. The incident occurred in the Yellow Creek area of Weiss Lake near Cedar Bluff, in Cherokee County.
No further information is available as troopers with the ALEA Marine Patrol Division continue to investigate.
The Sand Rock Volunteer Fire Department, Cherokee County Rescue Squad, Leesburg Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Floyd Ambulance Service, and ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division responded and assisted with the incident.
