A family tragedy has turned into a mission to make Lake Murray safer.

On September 21, Stan Kiser was killed in a boating accident.

His wife, Shawn Campbell Kiser, survived but lost a leg. To honor her father’s memory, his daughter, Morgan Kiser, has started Safe the Lake.

The organization brings awareness to boater safety. How safe is Lake Murray for the around 27,300 boat owners who use the lake for recreation?

In 2018, Lake Murray had 11 accidents with 6 injures and 4 fatalities.

Safe the Lake’s questionnaire seeks to find the biggest concerns on boating safety, opinions on speed limits, and what areas are thought to be the most dangerous on the lake.

They seek views on mandatory continuing education and legal consequences for Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and mandatory sobriety testing in all accidents.

DNR officer John Bedingfield mentioned 2 incidents of lake users being so drunk that when they jumped in to swim, they had to be rescued to prevent drowning.

Boating under the influence played a part in Kiser’s death. High marijuana levels were found in the bloodstream of the driver in a fatal collision in 2017 where 2 men died.

DNR statistics show about 30 boating under the influence charges so far in 2019.

If an accident results in injury or death, the BUI charge becomes a felony.

A Breathalyzer test cannot be refused.

Safety was the main focus at the Lake Murray Association on November 12.

Capt. David Allen addressed the proper way to pilot a boat and Capt. Mike Kirk, reviewed boat lighting and the appropriate way to navigate at night.

Sen. Ronnie Cromer and Rep. Chip Huggins were present to discuss boating safety legislation.

SC law requires an unaccompanied teen under the age of 16 to pass a boater safety course. However, anyone possessing a valid driver’s licensee can drive a boat without any boating safety courses.

Hunter Robinson, a DNR supervisor, said if everyone took boating safety classes, followed the laws, paid attention and did what they were supposed to do, it would be a lot better.