UPDATE: Boater Involved in Fatal Crash Pleads Not Guilty

UPDATED Friday, December 14, 2012 --- 4:28 p.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- A 22-year-old man driving a boat involved in a fatal crash has had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf in Juneau County.

Prosecutors say Christopher Collins and four friends were boating on Castle Rock Lake last July, stopped at an island party and visited a couple of bars. With Collins at the wheel, the boat slammed into a bridge pillar on the lake. Passenger Michael Miklavicic died from his injuries. Authorities say Collins had a blood-alcohol content of 0.13 percent when tested at a hospital.

Collins is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and causing injury by intoxicated operation of a boat. The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (http://wrtnews.co/W5orfW ) says Collins stood mute Thursday at a plea hearing. The judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.

_______________________________________

Posted Monday, October 1, 2012 --- 7:45 a.m.

MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- An Adams man is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle in a July boat crash on Castle Rock Lake that left one person dead.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports (http://bit.ly/V2f1QZ ) 22-year-old Christopher Collins faces a possible sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted.

The crash killed 23-year-old Michael Miklavicic of Friendship.

The complaint says Collins was driving a boat with four passengers on a July night when he struck a rock.

Collins allegedly told a deputy he heard someone yell a warning and tried unsuccessfully to steer around a bridge support. He said he had four or five beers before the crash. His blood alcohol level was 0.13 percent.

A message left at the office of Collins' attorney on Sunday was not immediately returned.

------

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.


Comments (3)

By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.

Read Comments

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
  • by Tooner Location: Location on Dec 16, 2012 at 10:21 AM
    to -> Really? ....it's his 'legal' representative setting the table for his 'let's make a deal' play in our legal system.....the short answwer for why our society is the way it is..?...no consequences. You watch this case and see what happens. This drunk boater will end up with 1 year county jail (or less) and probation. That is the price this 'system' assigns to a human life. of a human life
  • by REALLY? Location: Madison on Dec 15, 2012 at 12:12 PM
    Of course the loser pleads not guilty..
  • by Anonymous on Oct 1, 2012 at 10:04 AM
    ANd my mother in law wonders why I won't take my toddler out on a pontoon boat with her and her drinking buddies....

Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2013

Designed by Gray Digital Media