The driver of a speedboat that crashed and killed three people is facing multiple charges.
Three people were killed and five injured after a speedboat ended up on top of a fishing boat on Bobs Lake Kingston, Ontario on May 18. On Wednesday, Ontario Provincial Police said 44-year-old Matthew Splinter was taken into custody for allegedly causing the death of Kaila Bearman, 21, Juliette Côté, 22, and Riley Orr, 23.
Police say Splinter was drunk and charged him with three counts each of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death, dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm, impaired operation causing death and impaired operation causing bodily harm, DailyMail.com reported.
Det. Insp. Marty McConnell said police hope the charges bring “some measure of resolution” to those affected by the tragic collision. He said it took so long to bring charges because of the “complexity of death investigations.”
“With the resources involved in this, I wanted to ensure that a fulsome and fair investigation was brought forward to the courts,” he said.
“I looked at the severity of this investigation. Tragically, three lives were lost and others were seriously hurt,” McConnell said at a news conference. “I felt it met the criteria of a Criminal Code offense to be laid in this case.”
Splinter appeared in a Kingston courtroom on Wednesday to confirm his identity and agree to not contact any of the victims, their families and witnesses. He is currently being held in custody ahead of a bail hearing.
Orr, 23, worked with Frontenac Plumbing Service, who posted their own tribute to social media.
“Riley Orr started with FPS in April of 2018, at eighteen years of age,” the statement read. “We had the privilege and pleasure of watching him grow into an outstanding young man, with so much potential. He will be greatly missed here.”
“How Ill permanently remember this boy,” a friend captioned a photo of Orr laying in the snow as a child. “Too many memories to countlucky to have been raised with you and to have known you as a friend. You will be missed by many.”
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