An Anderson County, South Carolina Sheriff's deputy died after being involved in a boating accident during a training exercise Thursday morning.
Deputy Devin Hodges was struck by a propeller after being ejected from the boat along with two other people, according to The Anderson Independent Mail.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Capt. Robert McCullough told the newspaper that the Anderson County Sheriff's Office and representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were holding training on Lake Hartwell at the Singing Pines Campground in Starr when the incident occurred.
"It appears that three people were ejected from a boat and that the boat came back around and the propeller struck one of the people who had been ejected," McCullough said.
Deputy Anderson County Coroner Charlie Boseman said the 30-year-old marine patrol officer was pronounced dead around 10:37 a.m. in the emergency room of the AnMed Health Medical Center.
"Our hearts and love and prayers go out to his family," Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns said following the incident. "We will be wrapping our arms around this family and the Sheriff's Office family. We stand ready to do anything we can."
Officials said that the two others in the boat were not physically injured, but were taken to the hospital to be treated for shock.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident.
Hodges joined the Anderson County Sheriff's Office in January and previously worked for the Lander University Public Safety, Abbeville County Sheriff's Office, Laurens County Sheriff's Office and the Calhoun Falls Police Department.
Officer.com will provide more information as it becomes available.
