Criminal charges laid in fatal Bobs Lake boat crash

UPDATE: Matthew Splinter was released on bail following a Nov. 29 hearing. His conditions include house arrest except for medical appointments or meetings with his lawyer, non-contact orders for more than 77 people and a ban from operating or caring for any vehicles or vessels.

 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have laid a dozen criminal charges against a South Frontenac Township man accused of causing a boat collision that killed three people in May.

Police arrested Matthew Splinter, 44, on Tuesday and have charged him with three counts each of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death, dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm, impaired operation causing death and impaired operation causing bodily harm.

The charges are in connection with a deadly collision between a speedboat and what police called a fishing-style boat on Bobs Lake on May 18. 

Det. Insp. Marty McConnell of the OPP's Frontenac detachment announced the charges against Splinter at a news conference on Wednesday. McConnell said the complexity of death investigations was a factor for the delay in laying charges.

"With the resources involved in this, I wanted to ensure that a fulsome and fair investigation was brought forward to the courts," McConnell said, adding one of his considerations was the "severity" of what happened.

"Tragically, three lives were lost and others were seriously hurt, and I felt that it met the criteria of a criminal code offence to be laid in this case."

Police did not offer further details on the collision, citing an ongoing investigation and saying that the evidence is now before the courts.

The crash occurred at 9.30 p.m. on the Saturday of the Victoria Day long weekend.

Tragic end to 'amazing day' 

McConnell thanked local residents of Bobs Lake who assisted both after the collision and with the police investigation, before offering his own condolences to the families who lost loved ones. 

"We hope that today's announcement helps to bring some measure of resolution," he said.

Kaila Bearman, 21, Juliette Côté, 22, and Riley Orr, 23, were pronounced dead at the scene. Five other people ages 21 to 44 were hospitalized, including one whose injuries necessitated an airlift.  

Orr's obituary described him as a good friend to many, with a "huge, kind heart" and the ability to light up a room with his smile.

Bearman's smile was also described as a bright spot in the lives of her loved ones.

"We will not let darkness overpower the light, joy, determination, and passion that was this beautiful young lady," her obituary read.

In an interview with CBC, Côté's family described her as a "force" who was equally strong-willed and sincerely loving.

"You're just absolutely gutted," explained her mother, Alison Côté, in May. "You feel like a piece of you is just gone. Basically, we're going to be starting our life over as of now."

The Côtés said their daughter had been enjoying the long weekend at a friend's family cottage on Bobs Lake. In text messages that morning, Côté told her parents the group was boating around the lake, playing games and listening to music.

"It's a comfort to us knowing that she had an amazing day for her last day," Alison Côté said at the time.

Hopes for healing

A small crowd of Bobs Lake residents, along with friends and family members of some of those killed in the collision, attended the police announcement on Wednesday.

"It angered us and all of our friends," said Bob Leonard, whose family has had a cottage on the lake since 1968. "It just didn't need to happen."

Leonard said he wonders whether the crash and criminal charges could lead to a speed limit on the lake, or at least remind boaters to slow down.

Regardless of what happens on the water, he said he hopes the families of the victims will get "justice" in court.

"There's never closure in anything like this, but maybe it'll help healing a little bit," Leonard said.

Splinter made a brief court appearance in Kingston on Wednesday morning and is scheduled to appear again on Friday.