Drowning and internal injuries cause the death of two boat passengers
The Ripley County coroner has determined the cause of death of the two people killed Sunday when they were ejected from a boat after a collision near Doniphan. According to Coroner Mike Jackson, 25-year-old Josh Burson was ejected, struck part of the boat and died from massive internal chest and abdominal trauma. 11-year-old Jerry Moat’s death was ruled as a drowning. He was found the next day in a root wad downstream from the accident site. Neither was wearing a life vest. The coroner has not ruled whether their deaths were homicide or accidental. Meanwhile, the boat operator who allegedly caused the accident, 27-year-old Radeena Proffer, is charged with two counts of Class-B felony involuntary manslaughter for contributing to the deaths of Burson and Moat. Police contend Proffer was legally intoxicated and operated the boat in a careless and imprudent manner. She appeared in Ripley Circuit Court Wednesday for an arraignment and motioned for a bond reduction. A new hearing is pending.
Written By: bonacki
Date Posted: 7/9/2009 4:17 PM
Number of Views: 525
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