Police: Impaired boater hits, kills teen on Lake Norman

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — A 17-year-old girl was killed in a boating accident on Lake Norman Saturday night, officials said.

The girl was on a kneeboard when a pontoon boat hit her from behind and ran over her, officials with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission said.

The accident happened at about 9 p.m. near Whippoorwill Road at Little Acorn Lane in Mooresville.

Officials said the driver of the boat, Keith Owen Cerven, had been drinking. Cerven was arrested and charged with boating while impaired. More charges could be filed once the district attorney looks at the case.

Authorities said it was extremely busy on the lake Saturday night when the accident happened, because the crowd was preparing for the fireworks show.

"There's no yellow lines, there's no white lines; You have to pay attention to your surroundings. You have to know what's going on because a boat can be coming from any direction at any time," Ron Robertson with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission said.

The teen, whose name has not been released, was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.

Channel 9 will bring you updates as soon as they are available.

WSOC