Boating death case back in court
By JIM SECKLER/The Daily News
Thursday, May 1, 2008 12:06 AM CDT
NEEDLES - A fun summer day on the Colorado River last August turned deadly when a 10-year-old California girl was killed when another boat reportedly slammed into the boat she was a passenger in.
The case against the driver of the other boat, Michael Scott Brandon, was back in court Tuesday in San Bernardino County Superior Court in Needles. Brandon, 47, is charged with felony vehicle manslaughter and negligent use of a watercraft while under the influence. Tuesday's hearing was again postponed until June 17.
A defendant charged with manslaughter faces up to 13 years in prison if tried and convicted.
Brandon of Yucaipa, Calif., was driving an open bow, V-hull boat on the river near Topock on Aug. 4 when he allegedly crashed head-on into another boat. According to Melinda Smith, the girlfriend of Sara's father, Brandon's blood alcohol level was reportedly tested at about 0.280 percent and was later tested at 0.210 percent.
The boating crash killed Sara Margiotta of Temecula, Calif., who was on a deck-style boat with 10 other people traveling northbound on the Arizona side of the river just south of the Interstate 40 bridge.
Brandon's boat, which was carrying two other people, was heading southbound on the same side of the river when both boats collided head-on. Margiotta was taken to Valley View Medical Center, where she died from major head injuries. Two other passengers were treated and released from Colorado River Medical Center in Needles. Brandon and a 13-year-old California girl in his boat were also injured in the crash.
California law does not require a boat to travel on a specific side of the water, unlike Arizona law. Federal navigation rules state that approaching boats should each turn right to avoid a head-on collision.
Smith was one of the passengers injured on the deck-style boat. She said a charity event has been started in memory of Margiotta, called Sara's Way, that recently raised $95,000 at a golf tournament.
By JIM SECKLER/The Daily News
Thursday, May 1, 2008 12:06 AM CDT
NEEDLES - A fun summer day on the Colorado River last August turned deadly when a 10-year-old California girl was killed when another boat reportedly slammed into the boat she was a passenger in.
The case against the driver of the other boat, Michael Scott Brandon, was back in court Tuesday in San Bernardino County Superior Court in Needles. Brandon, 47, is charged with felony vehicle manslaughter and negligent use of a watercraft while under the influence. Tuesday's hearing was again postponed until June 17.
A defendant charged with manslaughter faces up to 13 years in prison if tried and convicted.
Brandon of Yucaipa, Calif., was driving an open bow, V-hull boat on the river near Topock on Aug. 4 when he allegedly crashed head-on into another boat. According to Melinda Smith, the girlfriend of Sara's father, Brandon's blood alcohol level was reportedly tested at about 0.280 percent and was later tested at 0.210 percent.
The boating crash killed Sara Margiotta of Temecula, Calif., who was on a deck-style boat with 10 other people traveling northbound on the Arizona side of the river just south of the Interstate 40 bridge.
Brandon's boat, which was carrying two other people, was heading southbound on the same side of the river when both boats collided head-on. Margiotta was taken to Valley View Medical Center, where she died from major head injuries. Two other passengers were treated and released from Colorado River Medical Center in Needles. Brandon and a 13-year-old California girl in his boat were also injured in the crash.
California law does not require a boat to travel on a specific side of the water, unlike Arizona law. Federal navigation rules state that approaching boats should each turn right to avoid a head-on collision.
Smith was one of the passengers injured on the deck-style boat. She said a charity event has been started in memory of Margiotta, called Sara's Way, that recently raised $95,000 at a golf tournament.