Victims Identified in Deadly Boating Crash on Lake Murray

LAKE MURRAY, SC- A boating accident on Lake Murray left two people dead, and several others injured Friday night.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the victims of a fatal boating accident.

The body of Mark Daniel Phillips, 37, of Columbia was recovered shortly after the incident, which took place, Fisher said. Phillips died from blunt force trauma sustained in the collision.

At 5:00PM the body of a second victim, identified as Christopher Shawn Lanier, 28, of Blythewood was recovered by SC DNR.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday, April 24th, to determine Mr. Lanier’s cause of death.

Captain Robert McCullough with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources tells ABC Columbia News that two boats holding three people each collided around 11p.m Friday night on the lake near Dreher Island. Two of them were transported to the hospital.

One of the boaters was confirmed dead Saturday morning, while rescue crews continued to search for another.

Crews later discovered the body of the missing boater around 5pm, authorities say.

The incident remains under investigation by SC DNR.

The Lexington County Coroner will perform autopsies on the deceased boaters.