A North Carolina boater is facing charges, following a 10-year-old’s death Saturday in Chatham County.
Brooklyn Mae Carroll, 10, passed away at the scene Saturday afternoon when a boater, identified as Quinten Gregory Kight, 40, allegedly plowed into a group of people at Shearon Harris Lake.
The crash happened near Cross Point Access Area, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission.
Kight had been operating his boat when he crashed into swimmers at about 100 feet offshore. Another victim, Jennifer Stehle, was seriously injured in the crash and subsequently had her leg amputated, FOX 10 reports.
The defendant is now facing felony operating a motor vessel while under the influence, unintentionally causing serious injury to another person, and related charges,
On Monday, Chatham County District Attorney Jeff Nieman stated that investigators collected 39 empty beer cans from Kight’s boat, according to WRAL.
Investigators found additional alcohol containers outside the vessel, which police believe belonged to others on Kight’s boat.
“They found 39 empty beer cans in Mr. Kight’s boat, seven of which appear to have been shotgunned,” Nieman said.
Kight was said to have been looking behind him at a tuber he was pulling when the crash occurred. He then allegedly made attempts to dispose of alcohol on his boat.
He remains behind bars on a $500,000 secured bond amount.
Court records indicated that Kight is facing a pending charge in Moore County, after a December 2023 felony hit-and-run incident that caused injuries.
According to the Sun Sentinel, Brooklyn was scheduled to start fifth grade at West Lake Elementary School, in Apex. Stehle, who was a friend of Brooklyn’s mother, was a school social worker.
“Our family experienced an unimaginable tragedy—the sudden and heartbreaking loss of our sweet Brooklyn Mae,” a GoFundMe fundraiser for Brooklyn’s family read.
“BB was a light in every room she entered, with an infectious smile, a loving heart, and a spirit that touched everyone who knew her. Her laughter, kindness, and energy brought so much joy to her family and friends.”
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: GFM]
