Man charged with felony BUI in deadly Lake Murray boat crash

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A relaxing day on the lake turned into a nightmare for one Chapin family when a boater who police say was under the influence ran into their pontoon boat.

The crash happened around 9 p.m. Saturday near the Lighthouse Marina, off Johnson Marina Road.

Tracy Gordon, 53, was driving a cigarette boat when he hit a pontoon boat with three people in it -- a husband and wife and their daughter -- officials with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) confirmed.

The husband was killed, his wife lost a leg and their daughter was also hurt.

SCDNR said Gordon faces three counts of felony BUI for the crash.

Stanley Virgil Kiser, 68, of Chapin, died at the scene, the Richland County coroner confirmed.

Officials say Kiser was the driver of the pontoon boat that was struck by Gordon’s boat. Kiser died of multiple massive blunt force traumas to the head and torso, the coroner said.

Emergency crews rushed Kiser’s wife and daughter to the hospital with severe injuries.

Kiser’s wife lost her leg in the crash, according to SCDNR. The daughter also suffered injuries but her condition has not been shared.

Several agencies, including SCDNR, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Fire Department, and Irmo Fire Department were involved in the rescue effort.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and SCDNR are investigating the incident.

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