On September 11th, 2023, Jerson Martinez was found dead, having drowned in Smith Mountain Lake. Martinez was reported missing at 10:45am. Deputies responded to the call about the missing person and discovered Martinez’ body in the lake, they pronounced him dead when they pulled him out. The investigation is still ongoing, however foul play was not suspected.
The safety of Smith Mountain Lake has often been questioned throughout the years. Sophia Arnold (11) has seen some of these dangers firsthand. A few years back she got into a boating accident. In this accident the driver of the boat had been drinking. Driving under the influence, whether it be a car or a boat, is very dangerous. She says while she understands people are there to enjoy themselves, “I think there should be more precautions and ways to prevent driving under the influence at the lake.” While she continues to go back to the lake, this accident has certainly affected how safe she feels at the lake.
Leila Ramey (11), however, has been going to the lake for three years and has never felt unsafe at the lake. She says she loves going to the lake because she lives in a quiet cove with many families.
Smith Mountain Lake is relatively new, it officially opened in 1966 to the public. Many citizens have had their suspicions about the lake due to its history. The area was previously occupied majorly by tobacco, wheat, corn, and tomato farms. After the government made the decision to flood the area, many houses and buildings were left standing during the flooding. This fact may be somewhat unsettling to think about as you swim with friends. Last year Smith Mountain Lake had the highest number of boating accidents in Virginia. This is, of course, coincidental, however, this does add to many citizens questioning Smith Mountain Lake as the choice vacation spot.