Homicide charge filed in deadly boating accident

Authorities are investigating a boating accident that killed one person and injured another.

Authorities are investigating a boating accident that killed one person and injured another.

An Atlanta man was under the influence at the time of a deadly boating accident on Lake Blue Ridge, officials said Monday.

Chad Philip Haase, 44, was charged with first degree homicide by vessel, serious injury by vessel, boating under the influence and possession of marijuana, Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said.

Haase was operating the boat at the time of the accident, which occurred about 6 p.m. Saturday, according to McKinnon.

“Initial observations indicated that the two victims were being towed in a tube behind a vessel when the tube struck the shoreline,” he said.

David Harvey Payseur III, 47, of Atlanta, was killed. Deborah Brooks, 48, of Morgantown, was flown to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. Her condition was not known Monday.

The Department of Natural Resources and Fannin County sheriff’s officials were investigating the accident.

Lake Blue Ridge is about 100 miles north of downtown Atlanta in Fannin County.

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