HALL COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The driver of a boat authorities say was involved in a crash that killed at least one child late Monday has bonded out of jail.
Paul J. Bennett, 44, was arrested and charged with boating under the influence. He bonded out of the Hall County Jail Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities said Bennett left the scene of the crash around 10:30 p.m. near Shoal Creek Campground on Lake Lanier in Hall County.
The crash killed a 9-year-old boy and emergency responders are still searching for a 13-year-old boy still missing from the crash and presumed dead.
DNR and the Hall County Sheriff's Office underwater search and recovery team will be conducting initial sonar searches of the area. Divers will enter the water to search likely areas based on the results of the sonar searches.
Hall County Fire Chief David Kimbrell said 13 people from four families from Gwinnett County were traveling on a pontoon boat, approximately 28 feet in length. Authorities said the boat was struck head-on by a center console, fishing-style boat.
A DNR ranger responding to the accident saw the boat Bennett was operating as it entered Bald Ridge Marina in Forsyth County.
Investigators later returned to the marina and found the boat, which had damage consistent with the accident, authorities said.
DNR offices arrested Bennett at about 1:30 a.m. at the marina. A woman riding in the boat with Bennett at the time of the collision was not arrested.
Kimbrell said law enforcement is treating the accident as a hit-and-run.
The injured family members were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, according to Kimbrell.
The injured included the mother of the child that died and two other children. They were treated and released Tuesday morning.
The names of the victims have not been released, but authorities said the boys that died are from the same family.
Bennett could face more charges including failure to render aid and homicide by vessel. Authorities have not determined which boat had the right-of-way.
Stay with CBS Atlanta and CBSAtlanta.com for updates on this developing story.
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Pontoon boat carrying 13 people
Paul J. Bennett
