Waccamaw River boat crash kills two

Waccamaw River
Two boaters were arrested after a crash left two passengers dead and one missing Sunday evening on the Waccamaw River.

Two killed, one missing from Sunday boat collision

Two boat passengers died Sunday evening in a crash on the Waccamaw River. The crash resulted in another passenger being lost on the scene, and the arrests of two boat drivers.

Jennifer Hayes, 37-years-old of Chadbourn, N.C. , and Megan Lynn, 21-years-old of Whiteville, N.C. were both killed in the crash. They were both passengers on the boat of Travis Suggs of Tabor City. Twenty-one-year-old Garrett Smith of Clarendon, who was also riding with Suggs, is still missing.

The collision occurred near the Pireway community at approximately 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Two boats, the one operated by Suggs and another driven by Matthew Ferster of Shallotte crashed into each other.

Suggs and a fifth passenger on his boat suffered minor injuries. Ferster and one person on his boat suffered no injuries.

Officers arrested both Suggs and Ferster. Law enforcement charged both with boating while impaired. Sgt. Kyle Van Althuis of the NCWRC said other charges are currently pending.

As of Tuesday, March 31, crews from Columbus and Brunswick counties were still searching for Smith. The NCWRC continues to investigate the crash. Both Suggs and Ferster have been released from custody.

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