A boating accident that took place in July 2012 has made its way into a Wisconsin criminal court. The operator of the boat, a 22-year-old male, was charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle for his responsibility in the fatal accident. The crash led to the death of his passenger, a 23-year-old man.
The crash took place around midnight. The boat operator was carrying four passengers as it approached a bridge at a high rate of speed. The operator has stated that he was unable to steer around a bridge support, leading to a crash that sent all five individuals to the hospital for medical treatment.
The young man who died in this crash received severe head trauma. The boat operator was tested for the presence of alcohol, and a toxicology analysis revealed a blood alcohol level of .13 percent. As a result, he was originally charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. He recently entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge, which carries a prison sentence 15 years lower than the original charge could have brought.
The family of the young man killed in this boating accident has had some time to come to terms with the events that led to the death of their loved one. The eventual sentencing of the man responsible for the crash may provide them with some measure of justice in the case. Should they decide to move forward with a wrongful death suit against him, his admission of guilt in regard to negligent operation could assist them in obtaining a judgment against him in a Wisconsin civil court.
Source: Star Times, “Adams man pleads no contest in deadly Castle Rock boat crash,” Peter Rebhahn, Jan. 4, 2013
