Sentence delivered for America’s Cup accident

Andrew Lake received a suspended sentence in connection with the boat collision death of Mary McKee, a visitor from New Zealand who was in Bermuda to attend the America’s Cup. The 27-year-old had been found not guilty of the charge of manslaughter, however, he admitted to reckless driving.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons gave Mr Lake an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years. He also got five months, also suspended for two years, for causing injuries to Mrs McKee’s husband Arthur and the boat’s driver Charlie Watson, and Mr Lake was also handed 100 hours of community service.

Lake was at the helm of a 17ft motorboat on the night of June 1 last year when it hit and ran over a semi-inflatable boat. Mrs McKee drowned after she was knocked unconscious and fell out of the boat. Mr Watson suffered a fractured skull while Watson suffered severe injuries to his left leg.

Lake said he was unable to see the smaller boat because it had no lights. He admitted that he was driving recklessly and over the speed limit, but denied prosecution claims that he was traveling at more than 30 knots.

Watson testified that because the boat did not have lights, they intended to travel next to another, larger inflatable that did have navigation lights.

Lake said he was on his way to the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club from the America’s Cup Village when he saw a red inflatable boat directly in front of him and swerved to avoid it, and hit the McKee’s inflatable instead.

Lake said once he realised he had struck a boat, he called 911 and helped search for anyone who had been injured. He approached police as soon as he reached shore and told them he had been involved in the crash.

Officers testified that he told them he was going between 15 and 20 knots. He admitted: “I might have been going too fast.”

Source: Bernews, The Royal Gazette