Melton Hill Lake
A deer hunter was seriously injured early Saturday morning in a boating incident on Melton Hill Lake near Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area.
TWRA officers say three deer hunters drawn to hunt Oak Ridge WMA launched an aluminum boat at Solway Boat Ramp and headed toward the management area in dense fog. Around 6:30 a.m., Christopher Beckler, 47, of Cleveland, Tn. was ejected when the boat ran aground near the Freels Bend area. Mr. Beckler was near the front of the boat using a spotlight to assist his son Dawson Becker, 21, who was operating the vessel under dark and foggy conditions. Mr. Beckler was thrown into the water near the shoreline, knocked unconscious and was rescued by his son and a third occupant, Glenn Swafford, 52, also of Cleveland.
Following the incident, Mr. Beckler was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with head and facial injuries, but is expected to recover.
The incident remains under investigation by TWRA.