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Maritime Accident News

Missouri woman charged with manslaughter in Ozark river boat accident

Posted on Sep 18, 2011

A two boat collision on a Missouri River left two persons dead.

27-year-old Radeena Proffer of Poplar Bluff was charged with a Class B felony for first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the accident that killed her 11-year-old passenger and another boater on the Current River near the town of Doniphan.

The complaint alleges that at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, Proffer was under the influence of alcohol when her downstream bound 2005 Blazer utility boat crashed into an upstream bound 2003 Blazer operated by 26-year-old Chad Mikel of Poplar Bluff.

Proffer was charged with criminal negligence for failure to maintain a proper lookout.

Josh M. Burson, 25 and Jerry T. Mote, 11, both of Poplar Bluff, were killed.

Jerry's mother, 32-year-old Michelle Lafferty of Poplar Bluff, Proffer and passenger Michael Preslar, 35, were also injured.

According to Doniphan Police, Proffer reportedly registered a .123 blood-alcohol content. .08 is the legal limit. She also reportedly told police she had consumed three beers at her cabin along the river. Police said witnesses saw her consume a mixed alcohol drink in the boat and that she appeared to have glassy eyes, dilated pupils and the strong odor of alcohol from her breath following the accident.

Source: seMissourian.com

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