Jet Skiing Goes Fatally Wrong After 8 Year Old Smashes Into a Barge and Loses His Life in a Tragic Accident

An exciting weekend trip turned fateful for an 8-year-old boy and his stepfather. The duo lost their life when their jet ski collided with a barge on Tennessee Lake. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency confirmed the deaths of 36-year-old Steven White and his stepson Blake Brainard. The horrific collision took place around 7:30 p.m. leaving the entire community in shock. 

The agency stated that the accident occurred during nighttime when it is not permissible for the jet skis to operate. Hence, it exposes the breach in the security systems of Tennessee Lake which tops the list of popular weekend outing spots.  

Rigorous scavenging led to a heart-wrenching discovery

As soon as the collision took place, the barge employees rushed to the site. They discovered White at the scene but unfortunately, his injuries proved fatal leading to his death on the spot. On the other hand, 8-year-old Blake was initially unaccounted for. The initial search on Sunday till 1 a.m. yielded no trace of the young boy. 

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On the following morning, the search operation was resumed by the TWRA and United States Coast Guard to thoroughly search the barges involved in the accident. The investigators deployed remote-operated vehicles (ROV) and brought cadaver dogs to the site to find out any trace of Blake. Ultimately, at around 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, Blake’s lifeless was discovered. Even though both the victims had life jackets on, the impact of the incident caused their tragic demise. 

A heartfelt farewell for Steven and Blake

Charlotte Middle School posted an obituary for Blake accentuating his sweet and kind soul. He was an enthusiastic kid who participated in every sport. Besides, he owned a funny, smart and kind personality while at the same time ensuring that nobody was left out. As the family of the deceased reported, Blake was also in possession of “the all star catcher and the team captain for JT Warriors and Tennessee Elite Baseball teams.”

In their praise of Steven, the family informed that his close ones affectionately called him Aaron. Professionally, he was acclaimed as the district manager at Rural King. Beyond work, he was passionate about hunting, fishing and music revealing the carefree and adventurous side of his personality. Both their amicable nature and commitment to bring happiness to other peoples’ lives have left an indelible void among their family and friends.      

The devastating tragedy marked the 22nd boating-related adversity in Tennessee within a year. This serves as a stark reminder to implement relevant safety and awareness measures in adventurous sports. It is a somber moment for all as the community remembers the two lives tragically lost during a fun weekend.    

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