Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 3, 1993 TAG: 9307030184
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Linda McLaughlin, a passenger in the boat piloted by Leonard Carter, 28, of Bernard Drive Southwest, suffered bruises and a laceration on her shoulder as a result of the midnight accident.
She was treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Carter was not injured.
"They were very lucky" that they were not more seriously injured, said Sgt. Steve Pike, the game warden who investigated the crash.
Pike estimated Carter's boat was traveling about 50 mph at the time of the crash. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
Carter faces a reckless-operation charge in connection with the accident.
Pike said a lightning storm was raging when Carter spotted a flashing yellow light at Beacon Marina, where he has been housing his boat.
Carter apparently turned his boat in the direction of the light, but his boat got within 16 feet of the shoreline in two feet of water. He plowed into the middle of the docks, which ran like fingers from the shoreline into the water.
Carter's boat then ran across the bow of the pontoon boat and pulled down the roof on the boathouse.
The docks and pontoon boat belonged to Trudy Faber, a Moneta resident.
The impact of the crash gouged holes along the fiberglass hull of Carter's boat and smashed the boat's windshield.
by CNB