Fair Play Drowning Death

A death investigation is being conducted after the recovery of a body from Lake Hartwell (Tugaloo River basin) at Fair Play near the SC / GA state line. The body of an African American male was found within the jurisdiction of Oconee County.

At approximately 10 pm Monday night, Franklin County, Georgia sheriff department personnel initiated a traffic stop in the northbound lane of I-85 near mile marker 169. The traffic stop was initiated for a vehicle traveling at approximately 125 mph. The vehicle was a red 2014 Dodge Charger registered to a female individual in Greenwood, SC.

At the state line, on the bridge which crosses Lake Hartwell (Tugaloo River), this vehicle would strike a second vehicle prior to impacting the bridge guardrail. The male driver exited the vehicle and was observed to jump from the bridge into the lake on the South Carolina side.

Deputies with Franklin County observed him attempting to swim in the water, called out to him and attempted to throw a rope to him to rescue; he was last seen going beneath the bridge. His body was located and recovered at approximately 2 am in a water depth of 26 feet.

An autopsy will be scheduled for Wednesday to assist with the death investigation.

The Oconee County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Akeem O. Lukie, 31, of Greenwood. The Dodge Charger belonged to his wife, officials said.