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A Chattanooga tugboat accident that claimed the lives of two fishermen has resulted in an indictment against the tugboat operator. The incident took place on June 19, 2010, on the Tennessee River in Chickamauga Lake.
According to court documents, 39-year-old Warren Luetke was indicted on two counts of criminally negligent homicide resulting from a tugboat accident that claimed the lives of two fishermen. Tim Spidle, 45, of Elizabeth, and Richard Wilkey, 52, of Soddy-Daisy, lost their lives when the 647-foot tugboat-barge combination, operated by Mr. Luetke, slammed into their fishing boat.
"I'm overjoyed by it," said David "Christopher" Wilkey, 37, the only survivor on the fishing boat and commenting on the indictment. "One hundred times a day, that goes through my head. It ain't been an easy thing to deal with."
Mr. Luetke has also been charged with reckless operation of a boat and failing to render assistance after not stopping following the collision.
"They ran us down, and they got seven or eight miles before anybody stopped them," said Mr.Wilkey.
Mr. Luetke was arrested on Friday, February 11, 2011, following the indictment. He posted a $5000 bond.
The U.S. Coast Guard is also conducting an investigation into the fatal maritime accident.
The tugboat is owned by Chattanooga-based Serodino Inc. Following the tugboat accident, attorneys for Serodino filed a limitation of liability in federal court attempting to limit their liability in the tugboat accident.
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