(BRACEBRIDGE, ON) – In the early hours of August 1, 2013 the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a crash involving a boat hitting an island on Lake Muskoka, Muskoka Lakes Township. A thorough investigation was completed and the operator of the boat has recently been charged with numerous offences in relation to the crash.
The members of the OPP Bracebridge detachment, the Muskoka lakes fire department, and paramedics all responded to the crash at approximately 2:30 hours on August 1, 2013. The first responders attended Beaumaris Marina and boarded a boat to attend the scene of the collision. The boat involved was found to have had five young females on board on route home from a party. The boat was driven into a small unnamed rock island ejecting some of the occupants, resulting in serious injuries. All females survived the collision and were transported to the hospital.
The operator of the boat Christie CULOTTA 24-year-old from Waterdown has been charged with
CC 255(2) Driving While Ability Impaired Cause Bodily Harm
CC 255(2.1) Exceed 80 Milligrams Blood Alcohol Content / Vessel / Cause accident with Bodily Harm
CC 249(1) Dangerous Operation of Vessel
Operate a pleasure craft without prescribed competency
The charged female will appear in Bracebridge Court on December 17, 2013.
Operating a boat or driving a car impaired continues to be one of the leading causes of criminal death in Canada. If you plan on drinking, plan to not drive. Arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi, or stay overnight.
If you suspect that someone is driving or about to drive impaired, call 9-1-1 and report it. If you see that someone is impaired and intends on driving, do not let them drive.