Jay boat-crash drowning victim was drunk, autopsy finds
BY SHEILA STOGSDILL World Correspondent
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
10/03/12 at 6:20 AM
JAY - A man who died of drowning following a boat crash on Grand Lake in July had a blood-alcohol level of more than two times the legal limit, an autopsy report shows.
Monte Lee Price, 39, of Jay, died in the July 29 boating crash.
He was with a party of three other individuals and was thrown from a 20-foot boat when it struck a breakwater structure near Arrowhead South Marina around 2 a.m.
He and two others were thrown from the boat in the crash.
A breakwater structure helps dissipate waves before they reach the docks.
The two-page autopsy report showed Price died from an accidental drowning.
The toxicology report shows his blood-alcohol level was .20, almost three times the legal limit of .08.
A bruise and small laceration were seen on Price's left eye, and abrasions were on his legs, the report states.
The investigation into the crash remains incomplete, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
Justin Alberty, Grand River Dam Authority spokesman, said in an email the investigative report is not done, but the final accident report should be ready soon.
Brian Kuester, the district attorney for Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties, said "right now we are still waiting for GRDA to complete its investigation." Kuester was appointed to the case after Delaware County Attorney Eddie Wyant recused himself shortly after the incident, citing a conflict of interest.
Price's body was recovered in 50 feet of water in the Duck Creek arm of Grand Lake.
Also injured in the crash were Shane Carroll and his 17-year-old son, Brooks Carroll, along with family friend Brian Smith. GRDA police said none of the victims were wearing life jackets.
The elder Carroll is the Jay Middle School principal.
The men had attended a wedding on Saturday afternoon and left the reception around 10:30 p.m., according to friends that were at the wedding.
Original Print Headline: Autopsy: Drowning victim was drunk
