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New York tour boat captain charged in fatal accident

05 Feb 2007 22:33:20 GMT
Source: Reuters

ALBANY, N.Y., Feb 5 (Reuters) - The owner and captain of an upstate New York tour boat were indicted on misdemeanor charges on Monday for not having a second crew member on board when it capsized, killing 20 elderly tourists.

Shoreline Cruises and Captain Richard Paris are accused of violating state navigation laws, Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan said.

Paris faces a maximum penalty of a $250 fine or 15 days in jail or both. The company also faces a fine of up to $250.

The National Transportation Safety Board previously said excess weight was a factor in the October 2005 incident, when the pleasure boat sank with 47 passengers from Michigan on board.

The passengers had been on a sight-seeing tour of the autumn foliage and ended up dumped in the cold water. State law required a second crew member, but Paris was alone.

Hogan said the grand jury recommended that state legislators issue more stringent requirements for stabilizing vessels, staffing them with enough crew members and requiring pilots to be tested for alcohol after accidents.

"They (the grand jurors) felt very strongly about this case," Hogan told Reuters.

The Warren County Sheriff's Department did not test Paris for alcohol and found no criminal wrongdoing in its own investigation.

"This accident was a great tragedy. Our hearts go out to the victims, their family and friends," the grand jury said in a statement, according to Hogan.

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Last updated:Mon Feb 5 22:34:31 2007