A Western Kentucky student died Tuesday following an accident that occurred last week during practice rounds for a fishing competition on Lake Murray.

Johnathan Brian, 21, was pronounced dead at Prisma Health Richland Tuesday morning, according to Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece. 

Brian was one of four anglers involved in a two-boat crash during a practice round of the 2024 college Bassmaster tournament on the lake. The accident occurred around 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, and sent three people to the hospital, according to Stephen Fastenau of the state Department of Natural Resources. 

The competition went ahead as scheduled Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26 and 27. 

As of now, there is no word as to what caused the accident. The two other anglers sent to the hospital have been released, according to Bassmaster.

“We are all heartbroken to learn the news of Johnathan’s tragic death,” B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to Johnathan’s family, friends and college fishing community, and we continue to offer our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to Johnathan’s friends and loved ones while respecting their privacy during this painful time.”

The statement notes that the organization will continue to investigate the incident.

Participants at last week’s Bassmaster weigh-ins told the Chronicle that weather conditions before and during the competition made things difficult on the water. Rain and unusually warm temperatures led to a thick blanket of fog forming over the lake last week. 

When asked if weather contributed to the accident, Fastenau said the Department of Natural Resources is continuing to investigate. Mandy Pascal, a managing editor for Bassmaster, referred the Chronicle to Anderson’s previous statement.

Brian was a native of Shelbyville, Kentucky. He was in his junior year at Western Kentucky University and was a member of the school’s bass fishing team, according to the school’s student publication, the College Heights Herald. 

Brian was set to graduate from Western Kentucky in 2025 and was studying business administration and management, according to his LinkedIn page. 

Lake Murray has increasingly drawn a variety of fishing competitions to its waters in recent years, with the Capital City/Lake Murray Country regional tourism board marketing the reservoir as a destination for such events.

The lake was recently announced as the host for the 2024 USA Kayak Fishing Team Qualifier and Pan American Kayak Fishing Championship. The events are set to take place in April and September. 

In 2022, Lake Murray became the first-ever U.S. host for the Black Bass World Championship, which featured competitors from 25 different nations, and in 2023, it hosted a major league fishing tournament.

Last year, Bassmaster magazine ranked the reservoir No. 4 on its list of the“100 Best Bass Lakes.”

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.