GAINESVILLE - The Department of Natural Resources has brought charges against a Forsyth County man in an April boat crash that killed a Duluth man and injured a Milledgeville woman.
Rick Lavender with the DNR said Steven Brent Parker, 32, of Cumming faces four charges in the April 21 accident on the lake near Lower Overlook Park.
He said the four counts include homicide by vessel and serious injury by vessel, both felonies, along with BUI and reckless operation of a vessel.
"These charges were made recently and it's my understanding that Mr. Parker turned himself in on sunday to Gwinnett authorities," said Lavender.
Parker faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted on the felony charges.
Stephen Blake Jones, 59, was killed in the crash and his passenger Sharon Ezell was hurt.
DNR investigators concluded that Parker was operating a ski boat that collided with a pontoon boat before midnight April 21 near Buford Damon the Gwinnett side of Lanier. Jones and Ezell were on board the pontoon.
Investigators said Parker and his passenger, Ashley LeBlanc, of Cumming, swam from their damaged boat to shore and flagged down a motorist.
Rescuers found Jones' body in the water. The pontoon boat with Ezell
still aboard was found about 5 hours after the incident was reported. according to authorities. The said Ezell was taken in serious condition to an area hospital. Parker and LeBlanc were treated at a local hospital and released.
Monday
October 21st, 2024
4:56PM
