| Updated: 8/30/2009 10:24 pm |
Published: 8/30/2009 6:39 pm
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A warning for families heading to the lake for Labor Day about a dangerous behavior that led to one woman's death.
Officials with Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported the drowning of a 21-year old woman. The victim jumped off a state highway bridge into Lake Tenkiller, and never came back up.
Oklahoma State Park Ranger Wayne Hayes say you should always wear a life jacket when you're going for a swim in the lake. Before you jump in, always check the depth of the water to avoid injuries.
Jim Richardson, who took his daughter and her friends boating, adamantly enforces safety, instructing them never to jump in the water. His cousin had a near death experience a while ago at the lake.
"They dove in head first, and hit the bottom of the lake," Richardson said. "It was only 2 feet deep, kinda messed them up."
"She went out there, dove right in, and broke her skull," Richardson's daughter, Sara recalls. "It's not really good, you do have a chance of dying."
"The water's tempting, it seems fun, it's cliff diving that goes on, but there’s places where you do jump and don’t jump if it’s off a bridge, not safe anyway," Richardson said.
