The driver of a boat that allegedly caused the deaths of three people in Canada has been arrested and charged.
Matthew Splinter, 44, was arrested for allegedly causing the deaths of Kaila Bearman, 21, Juliette Côté, 22, and Riley Orr, 23, while drunk on May 18 at approximately 9:30 p.m. in the Bucks Bay area in Bobs. Lake.
Prosecutors say the collision occurred between a speedboat and a fishing boat in a no-wake zone, a narrow area in Buck Bay that requires boats to slow down to pass, according to the toronto star.
The accident also injured five other people between the ages of 21 and 44.
The images showed a red speedboat labeled with the name ‘And Wouldn’t Ya’ stacked on top of the wreck in images captured by a photographer Austin Brettell.
Juliette Côté was working at a family-owned interior design business, Côté Co., at the time of her death.
Kaila Bearman (left) and Riley Orr (right) died when a speedboat collided with their fishing boat.
Splinter has been charged 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.
Detective Inspector Marty McConnell of the Ontario Provincial Police’s Frontenac detachment said at a news conference that the “complexity of death investigations” was one of the reasons it was taking so long to identify a suspect.
“With the resources involved in this, I wanted to ensure that a thorough and fair investigation was brought to court,” he said.
‘Tragically, three lives were lost and others were seriously injured and I felt it met the criteria for a criminal code offense set out in this case.
“We hope today’s announcement will help bring about some resolution.”
Footage showed a red speedboat labeled “Y Wouldn’t Ya” piled on top of the plane’s wreckage.
Matthew Splinter, of South Frontenac Township, was arrested for allegedly killing Bearman, 21, Côté, 22, and Orr, 23, on May 18 in a “drunken boating accident.”
He also thanked Bobs Lake residents who helped both after the collision and during the police investigation.
The accused appeared in a Kingston court on Wednesday to confirm his identity and agree not to contact any of the victims, their families and witnesses.
He is currently detained pending a bail hearing. The Crown has told the court they plan to oppose his release, according to the Star.
Orr, 23, came from South Frontenac and attended Sydenham High School. He was an avid student-athlete who played sports during his youth, including minor football with the Syndenham Bulldogs and baseball with the Kingston Thunder.
Before his death, Orr worked with Frontenac Plumbing Service, who posted their own tribute on social media.
Bearman graduated from Regiopolis-Notre Dame High School and played volleyball and soccer.
Orr, 23, came from South Frontenac and attended Sydenham High School. He was an avid student-athlete who played sports during his youth, including minor football with the Syndenham Bulldogs and baseball with the Kingston Thunder.
Côté graduated from LaSalle High School and played field hockey and soccer.
“Riley Orr started FPS in April 2018, at age eighteen,” the statement said. ‘We had the privilege and pleasure of seeing him develop into an exceptional young man, with a lot of potential. “He will be greatly missed here.”
“How I will permanently remember this boy,” a friend captioned a photo of Orr lying in the snow as a child. ‘Too many memories to count… lucky to have grown up with you and known you as a friend. “Many will miss you.”
Bearman and Côté also graduated from Limestone School District high schools.
Bearman graduated from Regiopolis-Notre Dame High School and played volleyball and soccer, while Côté graduated from LaSalle High School and played field hockey and soccer.
“Rest easy angel,” one woman wrote under a photo of her and Bearman, who was described as a close friend. “Take care of each other up there.”
Another woman shared a selfie of her and Côté and wrote: “Give the sky some hell babies, we will never forget.”
At the time of her death, Côté was working at a family interior design business called Côté Co. alongside her mother, Alison.
Authorities have not yet provided further details about the collision and said the investigation remains ongoing.