Tragedy averted at Nolin Lake
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 5, 2000
MOUTARDIER Four people including two children escaped injury Monday after their vehicle went into Nolin Lake. Dana Woods, 28, her sister, Chasity Woods, 23, and two children, Austin Woods, 8, and Tori Nugent, 3, all of Sonora, were leaving the campground near Moutardier Boat Ramp shortly after midnight Monday when Dana Woods accidentally turned onto the ramp, Edmonson County Deputy Sheriff Eddie Lindsey said. She needed to make a right and she made a left instead, Lindsey said. It was kind of foggy that evening and apparently she didnt realize she was on the ramp until she was too close to the water to stop. The two women were able to escape and get the children out without any of them being injured, Kentucky State Trooper Will Cannon said. By the time others arrived from the campground to aid the women, they were already out of the car, he said. A wrecker pulled the car out of the lake. No damage was done to the vehicle except for water damage to the interior, he said. They were very lucky people, Lindsey said. The road to the boat ramp is marked with signs to provide ample stopping time before a car reaches the end of the ramp, Nolin Lake State Park Manager Pat Hull said. The signs are designed to provide notice when we are at high pool times, which we are not at right now. Hull said. The ramp also has rumble strips going down the hill to give warning. Dana Woods was apparently unfamiliar with the area and failed to notice the signs, perhaps because of fog, Cannon said. Its clearly marked as a boat ramp, he said. I saw the signs myself.