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Name released of boater killed after Norris Lake crash

Wildlife officers said they believe the victim was ejected from the vessel before the shoreline collision occurred.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE MONDAY: The man killed Saturday night on Norris Lake has been identified as Paul Musick.

Musick, 51, of Norris apparently was thrown into the water after his fishing boat hit a work barge docked along the shore. Musick wasn't wearing a life vest, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The boat kept going and crashed into the shore, burning.

A resident in the Big Creek area of Norris Lake dialed 911 around 11 p.m. Saturday night after hearing an explosion and seeing a fire on the lake, according to TWRA.

PREVIOUS STORY: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said the body of the Norris Lake boat crash victim has been recovered.

TWRA wildlife investigators located and recovered the victim’s body around 5 p.m. Sunday using an underwater Remote Operated Vehicle in the Big Creek area of Norris Lake.  

His body was recovered from about 60 feet of water and was located several hundred yards away from the area where his boat was found crashed into the lakeshore, according to TWRA.

On Saturday, TWRA wildlife officers said that just before 11 p.m. a resident in the Big Creek area of Norris Lake dialed 911 after hearing an explosion and seeing a fire on the lake.  

Wildlife officers arrived on the scene where a boat had crashed into the shoreline and was fully engulfed in flames, according to TWRA. 

Members of the Campbell County Rural Fire Service extinguished the fire, but the vessel was a total loss and there was no sign of the occupant, according to officials.

TWRA said the victim is a 51-year-old Norris man. 

Wildlife officers said they believe that the victim was ejected from the vessel before the shoreline collision occurred.  

Campbell County Rescue Squad, Campbell County Rural Fire, Jellico Rescue Squad and Anderson County Rescue Squad assisted in the search. Out of respect for the family, the victim’s identity will be withheld until Monday, according to TWRA.

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