On Saturday, August 2, 2025, just after 4:30 p.m., a sunny afternoon on Harris Lake in North Carolin turned tragic when a 22-foot Tige wake boat, reportedly piloted by 40-year-old Quinten Kight, struck a group of three swimmers about 150 feet offshore. According to North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission investigators, Kight had been circling the cove while towing a tube at the time of the collision. Witnesses told officers they heard a sudden spike in engine noise, followed by frantic shouts for help.
The bow of the wake boat struck a 10-year-old girl, who had been treading water in a life vest. A 35-year-old woman was a few feet away — with reports indicating the propeller blades slashed her legs, severing the left one above the knee and badly injuring the right. A third swimmer managed to dive clear of the boat.
First responders air-lifted the woman to a regional trauma center, where surgeons amputated her left leg and fought to save the right. The minor was pronounced dead on shore despite CPR efforts. Wildlife officers arrested Kight at the Cross Point boat ramp minutes later. Reports are a preliminary breath test indicated impairment, and blood samples were sent for toxicology. He now faces charges of felony boating while impaired and death by impaired boating.
Larger Safety Lessons for Lake Boaters
- Powerful wake boats generate significant prop-wash; operators must maintain wide buffers around swimmers.
- Alcohol consumption or drug use sharply reduces reaction time, making collisions like this recreational boating accident far more likely.
- Spotters should watch tubers and the surrounding water while the driver focuses forward.
Legal Rights After a Catastrophic Lake Accident
Families coping with fatal or life-altering injuries can pursue wrongful death claims or personal injury claims seeking recovery of hospital bills, prosthetics, and other economic damages as well as compensation for grief and future medical care. To succeed, they must meet the burden of proof by showing the operator’s negligence or intoxication caused the crash. Claims can also seek recovery for pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages. Because the statute of limitations imposes strict filing deadlines, preserving witness statements, 911 recordings, and vessel-inspection reports immediately is critical.
Speak With a Boating Accident Attorney Today
If you or your family has been devastated by a lake or river boating crash, contact the injury lawyers at Spagnoletti Law Firm. Our boating accident attorneys understand the complex mix of state navigation rules and civil liability standards that govern these cases. We investigate quickly, work with accident-reconstruction experts, and pursue full compensation for serious and catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. Schedule a free, confidential consultation by calling 713-804-9306 or reaching out online today.