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Gwinnett father drowns on Lake Hartwell after collision; 6-year-old son uninjured

Brandon Wilson (center) drowned in Lake Hartwell on Saturday. He is survived by his two sons, Pierce (left) and Garrett, and his wife Jenny.
Brandon Wilson (center) drowned in Lake Hartwell on Saturday. He is survived by his two sons, Pierce (left) and Garrett, and his wife Jenny.
By Erin Schilling
July 11, 2019

A 39-year-old father of two from Gwinnett County drowned Saturday during a boating accident on Lake Hartwell, authorities confirmed.

Brandon Dean Wilson of Grayson was driving a johnboat with his 6-year-old son Garrett on board about 10 p.m., Georgia Department of National Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said.

A ski boat hit their vessel on Lake Hartwell near the Eastanollee Creek area, he said. The lake is on the border of Georgia and South Carolina.

His son, who was wearing a life jacket, was uninjured and pulled from the water by a passenger on the ski boat, McKinnon said. However, Wilson was found dead in the water.

Wilson is survived by Garrett, his 9-year-old son Pierce and wife Jenny.

This is a family photo from the GoFundMe page for the Wilson family.

Credit: GoFundMe

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Credit: GoFundMe

His body was turned over to the Stephens County coroner.

It’s unclear whether any charges will be filed. The Georgia DNR’s investigation is ongoing.

A GoFundMe page that was created for his family had raised more than $35,000 by Wednesday evening.

In other news:

Police say Laila Daniel died in 2015 while in the care of her foster parents, Jennifer and Joseph Rosenbaum, at their Henry County home.??

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Erin Schilling
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