A man was killed, and another was injured Friday night when their boat collided with the U.S. Highway 62/412 bridge on Norfork Lake. Seventy-three-year-old Max Atkinson of Mountain Home was pronounced dead at the scene, and Steve Curtis was transported via air ambulance to an undisclosed Missouri hospital.
According to an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesperson, Atkinson was the operator of the boat at Henderson, and Curtis was his passenger. They were reportedly taking part in the Friday Night Buddy Bass-O-Thon Tournament Series, and their boat made impact with the bridge at Henderson around midnight. Authorities say both occupants were wearing personal flotation devices, and alcohol was not a factor.
Game and Fish will be completing the accident investigation. They were assisted at the scene by the Arkansas State Police, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, the Henderson Fire Department and the 101 Gamaliel Fire Protection District.
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