Law officers highlight boater safety ahead of holiday weekend: ' Please don't drink and drive'

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A number of different law enforcement agencies gathered Wednesday at a boat launch on Harris Lake just days before what officials say will be a busy holiday weekend -- and the same month that a deadly boating incident took place there.

Members of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Chatham County Sheriff's Office, and other entities held a news conference Wednesday morning to stress the importance of driver safety, both on the roadways and waterways.

"As much as it makes total common sense, it almost shouldn't need to be said. We shouldn't need to be here today to say something that has been said time and time again," said Jeff Nieman, district attorney for Orange and Chatham counties. "Please, if you are listening to this, think before you act, before you get behind the wheel of a car or boat."

The state's On the Road, On the Water, Don't Drink and Drive public safety campaign is in its 15th year. The goal is to increase boater safety and awareness and reduce the number of incidents.

On Aug. 2, 10-year-old Brooklyn Mae Carroll was hit and killed on Harris Lake by a suspected drunk boat driver. A woman, Jennifer Stehle, was also struck and was severely injured. Doctors ultimately had to amputate her leg.

"It's just human nature that when an officer is investigating an incident and it's a fatal incident, no one enjoys seeing that loss of life, especially when it's a young child," said NC Wildlife Resources Commission Lt. Forrest Orr. "So I just want to reiterate, nobody wants to see that. It's hard on the officers. It's hard on the families. So we just ask again, please don't drink and drive. We don't want to put anybody through that stress of having to see a fatality."

According to statistics provided by law enforcement, an estimated 36% of all boating fatalities nationwide involve alcohol.

"We know people are out here. They're going to drink alcohol. They're going to have a good time and that's fine. But we would stress that we would like to see sober drivers," said Wildlife Resources Commission Officer Jake Thompson. "Like I said, this young lady lost her life. Another mother of two was seriously injured. Her life will never be the same. That family will forever be affected because of that."