Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Acworth father and son killed in personal watercraft crash

A watercraft crash in North Carolina left an Acworth father and his 10-year-old son dead Friday (Credit: Elizabeth Clair)
A watercraft crash in North Carolina left an Acworth father and his 10-year-old son dead Friday (Credit: Elizabeth Clair)
By Ellen Eldridge
May 28, 2016

An Acworth father and son were killed in an accident while riding a personal watercraft Friday afternoon.

John Wernowsky, 51, and his 10-year-old son, Jake, struck the fishing pier at the Wildlife Resource Commission Boat Ramp in North Carolina, according to WWAY-TV.

Both are believed to have died from blunt force trauma.

The accident happened about 2:20 p.m. Friday and also injured two other people, who were on a nearby personal watercraft, according to WECT.

Wernowski’s wife and daughter had already come up to the dock, the news station reported. Wernowsky and his son were on a second watercraft. They both grabbed onto the dock, but when someone hit the throttle, the watercraft hit the fishing pier 50 feet in front of them.

A town spokesperson said that pier is closed until further notice and will remain closed through Memorial Day.

About the Author

Ellen Eldridge
More Stories

Keep Reading

The northern lights are visible from the Georgia marshes south of Savannah on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Mark Yeager/Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project)

Credit: Mark Yeager/Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project

Look up: Northern lights could be back for an encore above metro Atlanta

Northern lights make a rare display to light up the North Georgia night sky.

AJC analysis: Southwest Atlanta voters hand council presidency to Overstreet

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of the vote found Marci Overstreet dominating the Southwest Atlanta votes.

Family of child injured in tow truck crash gets $13 million verdict

Tow truck company, driver were named in two other traffic accident injury lawsuits since 2023.

The Latest

The northern lights are visible from the Georgia marshes south of Savannah on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Mark Yeager/Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project)

Credit: Mark Yeager/Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project

Look up: Northern lights could be back for an encore above metro Atlanta

AJC analysis: Southwest Atlanta voters hand council presidency to Overstreet

Family of child injured in tow truck crash gets $13 million verdict

Featured

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins' Senate campaign used Sen. Jon Ossoff's Senate portrait (center) to create an AI-generated video of Ossoff talking about his vote not to end the government shutdown. The video was reposted to Collins' campaign account on X (left). (Screenshot)

Credit: Screenshot

OPINON

Murphy: Jon Ossoff warned about deepfakes. Now he is one.

A Mike Collins campaign video uses AI to make Sen. Jon Ossoff say outlandish things. A proposed state law would rein in such uses of AI in campaigns.

President of Atlanta Fed Raphael Bostic announces retirement

Atlanta Fed President and CEO Raphael Bostic has served in the role since 2017 and is the first Black and openly gay chief executive of a regional Fed bank.

Savannah ditched 2 marathons. Can shorter race find Peachtree-like success?

Savannah is an attractive destination for those whose idea of a fun weekend getaway is a road race. But two marathons have left town. Will Saturday's shorter race be a keeper?