LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Boating fatalities in Arkansas reached a 16-year high in 2025, with 17 deaths reported across the state, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s (AGFC) annual boating accident report.
Lake Hamilton boat collision leaves 3 dead, 3 injured
The report, compiled by AGFC Boating Law Administrator Sgt. Sydney Grant also shows a rise in overall boating accidents, climbing to 73 incidents, the highest since 2020.
Officials say a combination of hazardous water conditions and increased activity among certain groups contributed to the spike.
“We had a lot of water and current in most of our streams and rivers from heavy rains,” Grant said. “So conditions were not good for people who weren’t familiar with navigating those conditions in those exact areas. Nine vessels involved in the 73 total accidents in the state were rented, including some on trout streams during those floods. This further indicates a level of operator inexperience with their craft and the setting. Forty-one of the 88 operators had more than 100 hours of experience boating, but that doesn’t mean they had experience with the craft they were piloting at the time of the accident or the conditions they faced.”…