Montgomery man charged with Homicide by Vessel after fatal boating accident on Lake Martin

Alabama Marine Police officers have charged 22-year-old Patrick Leigh Cumbie of Montgomery with Homicide by Vessel and Boating Under the Influence after a two-boat accident occurred on Lake Martin late Saturday night. The accident claimed the life of a 62-year-old Edwin Donald Tatum of Prattville and injured four others. "The accident remains under investigation," said Alabama Marine Police Sgt. Gary Buchanan.

According to Buchanan a Fisher pontoon boat was stopped in Little Kowaliga Creek on Lake Martin not far from Real Island Marina. People from that boat were in the water around the stern when a Legacy runabout operated by Cumbie ran over several of them before striking the Fisher pontoon boat in the rear on the right side. "It was a horrific event for everyone involved," Buchanan said. "In a boating accident you have the added dangers and complications presented by the lake itself. You can't just drive an ambulance out onto the water to get to the injured."

Those injured were transported to hospitals in Tallasee and Montgomery. Officers from Eclectic P.D., deputies from the Elmore County Sheriff's Department and members of the Kowaliga Volunteer Fire Department responded to assist.

Cumbie's bond was set at $15,000.00 on the Homicide by Vessel charge and $1,000.00 on the Boating Under the Influence charge.

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