Teenager pleads guilty in fatal Pinellas County boat accident

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – A teenager has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal boating accident in Pinellas County last year, WFLA reports.

The 17-year-old Largo resident was sentenced to five years probation Monday morning after entering the plea to a charge of vessel homicide.

The accident occurred November 1, when the convicted drove six other teenagers on his parents’ boat on the Intracoastal Waterway following a Halloween party. According to investigators, he was speeding in the vessel when he hit a channel marker near Indian Shores. The group was thrown into the water and one of the teens, a 16-year-old girl, died in the crash.

Speeding was a contributing factor in the incident, prosecutors said. The boy issued an apology to the victim’s family when he appeared in court Monday. In addition to the probation, Judge Joseph Bulone also ordered him to complete 300 hours of community service and said he must not use alcohol until he is 21 years old.

At Kemp, Ruge and Green, our Pinellas County Boat Accident Lawyers have fought to hold negligent parties responsible after serious accidents on the water. So if you have been injured or lost a loved one in a boating or personal watercraft accident, contact our law firm today to find out how we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.  To schedule a free consultation where we can discuss your particular situation in detail, call us at 727-325-5512 or respond in our online chat box.