UNION COUNTY, Tenn. — A quiet Saturday morning on Norris Lake turned devastating when two boats collided near the Highway 33 Bridge, killing 25-year-old James Bailey of Maynardville and injuring two others, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Authorities say the crash happened around 8:30 a.m. when two vessels — one carrying two passengers and the other occupied by Bailey — struck each other in the open water. The two survivors were airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where they are being treated for their injuries.
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Bailey was initially reported missing after the collision, prompting an extensive search involving TWRA officers, dive teams, and local rescue personnel. After several hours of recovery efforts, officials confirmed his body had been recovered from the lake and transported to the medical examiner’s office for autopsy.
The TWRA has not yet released information on what led to the fatal crash or whether speed, visibility, or alcohol were contributing factors. Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active as they analyze boat damage, witness statements, and environmental conditions from that morning.
This tragedy marks the 26th fatal boating accident in Tennessee in 2025, underscoring growing safety concerns for boaters across the state. TWRA is urging lake visitors to wear life jackets, observe boating rules, and maintain heightened caution near bridges and high-traffic areas.
In Maynardville, grief has settled heavily over the community. Friends describe James Bailey as a kind-hearted young man who loved the outdoors and often spent weekends on the water with family and friends. “He was just full of life — always smiling, always helping someone,” said one close friend. “It doesn’t feel real that he’s gone.”
Local residents have already begun organizing a candlelight vigil near the Norris Lake Marina to honor Bailey’s memory and to pray for the two injured survivors.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about what caused the two vessels to collide on what began as a calm November morning. But for the Bailey family, and the wider Union County community, one truth is painfully clear — a life full of promise was lost far too soon.