Carly Sharec
csharec@dawsonadvertiser.com
Cooler temperatures and sunny skies all contributed to a poignant day, honoring the memory of two young lives lost and showing support to the family members left behind.
More than 300 bikers and hundreds of onlookers gathered at various locations throughout a four-county area for the Rumble in the Streets bike ride and car show, held Aug. 11, for the Griffin & Jake Prince Memorial Fund.
The Prince brothers were killed in a June 18 boating accident on Lake Lanier, when a fishing boat crashed into a pontoon boat carrying the boys.
The fishing boat was driven by Paul J. Bennett, who has been indicted by a Hall County grand jury for first-degree homicide by vessel and boating under the influence. According to news reports, Bennett has been released from the Hall County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
The Saturday ride, organized by Doug Boyle with the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, along with others with the department and surrounding sheriffs offices, began in Lumpkin County and weaved its way through Gainesville and Cumming before ending in Dawsonville at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. A press release on the event says that about 300 bikes showed up for the ride, with more than 30 classic cars entered in the car show.
I think it was a huge success, Boyle said. This couldnt have happened without everybody involved in the planning.
The Saturday event was the first time the Prince family had spoken publicly since the accident. Richard Pickering with the Georgia Sheriffs Youth Homes presented an American flag to the family.
On behalf of all of our family ... we can never thank you all enough, said Michael Prince, the father of the two boys.
Dawsonville resident Derek Kern had never participated in a ride before, and was greatly impressed by the turnout.
With that accident happening with the kids ... I grew up in Cumming, and the news story just really hit home, he said. I figured I would ride to support it.
Another rider in the event is a seasoned veteran of these rides, but even she was overwhelmed.