LEXINGTON — Authorities have identified the mother and son killed in Saturday’s boating accident on High Rock Lake.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Sgt. Tony Sharum said Melissa Chambers Britt, 32, of Oak Ridge, and her 3-year-old son, William J. Britt, died in the 12:30 p.m. accident on the Swearing Creek portion of the lake in Davidson County.
Both the mother and son were knocked off the pontoon on which they were passengers, when a ski or power boat hit the pontoon head on in a narrow portion of the creek.
It took divers more than four hours to recover Melissa Britt’s body from the water. The young boy reportedly died from his injuries on the way to a hospital.
Also seriously injured was Michael Chambers of Stokesdale. Sharum said he did not have an age for Chambers, who was Melissa Britt’s brother. He was listed in serious condition at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Sunday.
The driver of the pontoon was Melissa Britt’s husband and the boy’s father, William C. Britt Jr., 33, of Oak Ridge. He was not hurt.
The driver of the speed boat was Michael Greene, 52, of McLeansville.
Reports said Melissa Britt was three months pregnant.
Sharum has reported that no alcohol was involved. The power boat was traveling at a higher speed than the pontoon and after impact, it jumped onto the front portion of the pontoon, striking some of the occupants.
There were four people on the speed boat, but they were not injured.
Sharum said he would be conferring with the district attorney’s office in Davidson County to determine whether any charges should be filed.