Lanier
Phillips
LAKE MURRAY – A fatal boat crash on Lake Murray on Friday April 21, claimed the life of two Blythewood natives, and sent several others to the hospital. Christopher Shawn Lanier, 28, of Blythewood and Mark Daniel Phillips also of Blythewood but residing in Columbia, succumbed to injuries sustained after a 32-foot Intrepid powerboat collided with the 16-foot bass boat the victims were traveling aboard.
According to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher, Phillips’ body was found shortly after the incident, and an autopsy determined he died as the result of blunt force trauma sustained in the collision. Phillips was the owner of All Things Wild, a wildlife control company in Columbia, where Lanier was an employee.
Lanier’s body was not recovered until the next evening at 5 p.m. and his autopsy was conducted Monday. According to Fisher’s autopsy report that was released Monday afternoon, Lanier died of blunt force trauma to the head sustained in the collision.
It appears, according to investigators, that the 16-foot vessel that Phillips was operating and the 32-foot Intrepid being operated by Bruce Dyer collided, with the larger boat running over the smaller. All of the injuries reported came from Phillips’ boat.
No charges have been filed, and authorities have not confirmed whether or not alcohol was a factor in the collision. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources continues to investigate.
Of those taken to the hospital one remains hospitalized, but is recovering.
