Facebook Page Set Up for Lanier Boating Crash Victims

A memorial Facebook page has been set up for Jake and Griffin Prince, the Buford youths who were victims of this week's boating crash on Lake Lanier.

Jake, 9, was killed in Monday's collision, and Griffin, 13, still is missing. Diving teams have been searching for his body since the collision occurred late Monday.

The Facebook page already has accumulated more than 850 likes, and many comments and photo uploads.

Michael Prince Sr., the boys' grandfather, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that a party led by his son, Michael Prince Jr., was aboard a pontoon boat on Lake Lanier when the collision occurred. 

"They were on their way home," Prince said. 

The force of the collision sent all 13 on board into the waters of Lanier. Ryan Prince, 15, recovered the body of his brother Jake. 

"The only reason he didn't get Griffin was because (Griffin) wasn't wearing a life jacket," Mike Prince Sr. said.

Prince Sr. was out of town delivering a boat to Florida on Monday.

Paul Bennett, a Johns Creek hair salon owner, has been charged with boating under the influence in connection with the crash. Reports say the collision was virtually head-on, and that those on the pontoon boat had no time to react.

An unidentified woman was also on Bennett's boat when the arrest took place but has not been charged, authorities said.

Griffin Prince was a student at Lanier Middle in Gwinnett County. A memorial service for the boys will be held when Griffin's body is recovered.

See also: 

•  (in Lilburn-Mountain Park Patch)
• n

Patch will have continuing coverage of this incident.

This article originally ran in the Suwanee Patch.