Victim ID’d in deadly Lake Cumberland boating accident

Russell Co., Ky. (WKYT) - UPDATE: Russell County Coroner Mark Coots, tells WKYT, 37-year-old Anthony J. Williams was killed in the crash.

ORIGINAL: One person is dead and another has been injured after a vessel collided with Cemetery Island on Lake Cumberland early Saturday morning, according to The Department of Fish & Wildlife.

The incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. One victim was found injured, while the other was pronounced dead at the scene, after the body was discovered by a diver from Russell County Search & Rescue, who also responded.

“You’re just -- you’re running things through your mind, you know ‘what’s going on? Have we lost a life? Or do we have someone badly injured?’,” said Sergeant Wayne Wilson, who got the call early Saturday morning. “From that very moment until you get to the scene, you’re trying to gather information.”

The rescued individual received immediate medical attention for injuries sustained during the accident.

Sergeant Wilson said the lack of light out on the water contributed to the dangerous conditions faced by those involved, such as not being able to see floating objects including logs and trash.

“They were operating after dark and that enhances the dangers,” he said. “You can’t see those things floating in the water.”

According to Sergeant Wilson, it is important to maintain a safe speed which boating on the water, and to wear a life jacket to prevent drowning deaths.

This story is still developing and will update as more details become available.