Crime & Safety

Names of Lanier Boating Collision Victims Released

Brothers reportedly were from Gwinnett County. Search resumes Wednesday for missing teen.

Authorities have released the names of the victims from Monday's fatal boating accident on Lake Lanier, according to media reports.

Nine-year-old Jake Prince was killed when a fishing boat crashed into a pontoon boat, and Prince's brother, Griffin, 13, remains missing, WSB-TV website reported.

The WSB report also said the children’s father, Michael Prince, was driving the pontoon boat. The Prince family reportedly is from Gwinnett County.

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Paul Bennett of Cumming has been arrested and released on bond in connection with the crash. He faces boating under the influence charges, and other charges are possible.

Reports say that Bennett and his wife were planning a divorce and had moved out of their house. Bennett operated a hair salon in Johns Creek.

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A relative of the boys told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the Prince family owns and operates Grass Shack, a boat retailer in Buford.

Four families -- 13 people in all, with nine children -- were on the pontoon boat when the crash occurred around 10:30 p.m., officials said. Bennett fled after the crash and was arrested later, authorities said.

Divers were to resume their search Wednesday for the missing teen.


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