Charges have been laid in a boating crash that killed three young people and injured five others on the Victoria Day long weekend.
Police have arrested and charged Matthew Splinter, 44, of South Frontenac Township with:
- Dangerous operation of a conveyance, 3 counts
- Dangerous operation of a conveyance – causing bodily harm, 3 counts
- Impaired operation causing death, 3 counts
- Impaired operation causing bodily harm, 3 counts
The accused is set to appear in a Kingston court on Oct. 30.
“I want to thank the people of Bobs Lake and the cottagers that ran to support the victims moments after the collision,” Detective Inspector Marty McConnell, of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) of the South Frontenac detachment, said at a press conference.
The charges laid come five months after the initial collision. McConnell said that was due to how complex the investigation was. He noted the remote nature of the lake played a part in needing longer to conduct a collision reconstruction and using additional resources like the OPP marine and technical collision units.
The fatal crash happened just after 9:30 p.m. on May 18 in the Bucks Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston. An open-bow fishing-style boat and a speed boat collided.
Two women, aged 21 and 22 from South Frontenac Township and Elginburg and a 23-year-old male from South Frontenac were pronounced dead at the scene.
Five other people, ranging from 21 to 44 years old, were transported to a Kingston Hospital with a range of injuries. One was transported by Ornge Air with serious injuries.
Police said they don’t anticipate more charges will be laid in the case.