Boat Driver Charged After Fatal Horry County Boat Crash
Author: Auger Law | April 12th, 2021
A fatal boat crash on Sunday, April 11 left one man dead and another man facing criminal charges.
Authorities say the accident happened on the Intracoastal Waterway in Socastee. Five people — including four passengers and one driver — were riding on a 2007 Tracker Tahoe when it collided with a metal walkway connecting a pier to a dock. Horry County Fire Rescue responded to the scene around 8:30 PM.
Sadly, Corey Parag, 28, of Myrtle Beach, died of blunt force trauma suffered in the crash.
The boat’s driver, John Kody Ray, 27, of Surfside Beach, was later charged with boating under the influence resulting in death and two counts of violation of watercraft regulations. According to a police report on the accident, officers noted that Ray was unsteady on his feet, and admitted to consuming alcohol while operating the boat. The watercraft regulation charges were attributed to a lack of flotation devices on the boat.
Two other passengers were treated for minor injuries.
Unfortunately, boating under the influence is a common problem, although it may not get as much attention as driving under the influence. About one-third of boating-related accidents and deaths in the US involve alcohol or drug use. Boaters who plan to drink on the water should always arrange for a designated boat driver, the same way they would have a designated driver when going out to a local bar. Additionally, boaters should follow all other safety regulations, including having approved flotation devices on their craft.
If you know a surviving family member of a person who was injured or killed in an accident, please encourage them to contact our boating accident lawyers immediately. The consultation is completely free, with no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.
For over 25 years the attorneys at Auger & Auger have been dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. We have years of experience guiding and helping our clients every step of the way to receive compensation for aspects such as medical bills, funeral costs, and other monetary losses.
Editorial Note: At A&A we are always looking to improve the quality and safety and are saddened by the outcome of many tragic accidents across the Carolinas. The purpose of this news blog is to write about cases relevant to our industry and raise awareness about injury cases so that victims of similar incidents can educate themselves on theories of liability, the law, and how personal injury cases typically work. This article is created using publicly available information and is a secondary source. If you find any information here to be inaccurate, please notify us at [email protected], and we will make the appropriate adjustments.
