A Georgia man has been identified as the victim of a tragic boating accident Friday night on Lake Allatoona, where his vessel struck a breakwater near a popular public access area.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Patrick “Pat” Ramsey, 63, of Dallas, Georgia, was killed after his bass boat collided with a breakwater at Allatoona Landing in Bartow County. Authorities confirmed he was the sole occupant of the vessel.
Game wardens were dispatched to the area at approximately 9:25 p.m. on April 25, 2026, after receiving reports of a boating incident. When responders arrived, they located a bass boat resting against the breakwater structure with Ramsey deceased onboard.
With assistance from the Bartow County Fire Department, officials transported Ramsey’s body to shore, where the Bartow County Coroner’s Office took custody. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Ramsey was alone at the time of the crash.
The incident remains under investigation by Georgia DNR game wardens.
Preliminary findings suggest the boat struck a breakwater, a fixed structure made of rock or concrete designed to reduce wave action near marinas and boat ramps. Authorities noted that such structures can be difficult to see at night, especially in low-light conditions or when operating without adequate navigation lighting.
Lake Allatoona, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir along the Etowah River, spans nearly 11,860 acres with approximately 270 miles of shoreline across Bartow, Cherokee, and Cobb counties. It is one of Georgia’s most heavily used recreational lakes, attracting millions of visitors annually for boating and fishing.
Ramsey, a resident of Dallas in Paulding County, was from a community located just south of the lake and frequently accessed Allatoona’s public boat ramps, including Allatoona Landing.
Georgia DNR’s Law Enforcement Division is responsible for investigating all boating fatalities in the state. Officials have not yet released whether Ramsey was wearing a life jacket or if additional factors contributed to the crash.
Authorities continue to urge boaters to use caution, wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets, and ensure proper lighting when operating vessels after dark.
As the investigation continues, Patrick “Pat” Ramsey is being remembered as the sole victim of a sudden and tragic accident on the waters of Lake Allatoona.
