Fire and emergency personnel at a Lake Wawasee home where a 20-year-old lost his life in a boating accident. InkFreeNews photo by Ron Baumgartner.

SYRACUSE – Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal boating accident that occurred Saturday night, Aug. 8, on Lake Wawasee.

At approximately 6 p.m., responders were dispatched to the area of Johnson Bay on Lake Wawasee in reference to a person being struck by a boat.

An initial investigation revealed the Nathaniel Mroz, 20, of Fortville, was one of three people being pulled on a tube behind a boat when they were thrown off into the water.  While the boat was maneuvering in an attempt to retrieve the people, Mroz was struck by the boat.

Occupants on the boat were able to remove an unconscious Mroz from the water.  He was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office. 

Mroz was wearing a lifejacket at the time of the accident and all parties involved are cooperating with investigators. 

This incident is still under investigation and next of kin has been notified.

Responding agencies included: Indiana Conservation Officers, Syracuse Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Turkey Creek Fire Department and the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office.