Alleged drunk boater causes fatal accident

By Restovich Braun & Associates | 07/15/2015 | Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

On behalf of Restovich Braun & Associates posted in fatal motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, July 15, 2015.

Boating while intoxicated is a serious issue for people who are on the water. An intoxicated boater won’t have the reaction time or capabilities to ensure that safe methods are used while operating the boat. A recent story regarding a fatal 4th of July accident shows just how serious boating while intoxicated can be.

A man has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide after a 50-year-old was killed in a boating accident. That woman, the intoxicated man and a 3-year-old boy were all thrown from the boat when the boat hit a wave. The boat was moving at a high speed of 25 mph when it hit the wave.

Approximately 90 minutes after the incident, the man’s blood alcohol content registered at .125 percent. That is considerably higher than the .08 percent that is the legal limit for boat operators in Minnesota. The man admitted to drinking rum and Coke before operating the boat.

In this case, only the young boy had on a life jacket. The adults on the boat weren’t required to wear life jackets, but that might have helped in this case. The woman who died in this accident apparently died from drowning. Interestingly, the woman was a youth swimming coach.

When a loved one is killed or when you are injured in a boating accident caused by an intoxicated boat operator, seeking compensation is possible. This compensation might help to cover costs associated with medical treatment or final expenses. While it won’t bring a loved one back or make injuries go away, compensation can reduce the financial impact of the accident.