THE DRIVER OF A BOAT that ran aground on Swan Island shortly after midnight Sunday was charged with boating under the influence.
A Bowdoinham man was charged with operating under the influence after crashing his boat near Swan Island early Sunday morning.
The incident was reported just after midnight, according to Jeff Nichols, spokesman for the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Douglas Stevenson, 44, of Bowdoinham was operating his 2003, 29-foot, 600 horsepower Four Winns power boat north in the Kennebec River near the south end of Swan Island. The boat ran aground on Swan Island and the initial investigation by the Marine Patrol indicates it was traveling at a high rate of speed.
FRIENDS OF MERRYMEETING BAY members Ed Friedman and Dave Meehan were conducting a radio-tracking flight Sunday morning searching for a dozen tagged carp when they spotted this crashed vessel above the high tide line.
According to Thompson, there were three passengers on- board. Krista Hurst, 41 of Birmingham, Michigan and Lesia Tatarsky, 37 of Warren, Michigan each received serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Dresden Fire Department, paramedics from Gardiner Fire Department and Sagadahoc County Sheriff Cpl. Ian Alexander rescued everyone from the boat. The two injured women were transported to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick by Gardiner Rescue.
“Stevenson’s blood alcohol level several hours after the accident was 0.16 which is double the legal limit,” said Nichols. “The accident investigation continues and additional charges may be coming.”
Swan Island is a state owned wildlife management area. Its legal designation is Perkins Township, and it sits in the Kennebec River between the towns of Richmond and Dresden.
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