Manslaughter charge filed in fatal Cape boating accident
The State Attorney’s Office announced today that it has filed charges in the case of a fatal boat crash that occurred in Cape Coral on May 8, 2010.
The state has charged Jason Williams with one count of boating under the influence manslaughter, one count of BUI resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of BUI with damage.
According to a report from the State Attorney’s Office, Williams turned himself in Tuesday afternoon to members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, which investigated the case.
Jason T. Baldner, 35, of 2110 Maplewood Drive, Onalaska, Wis., died July 28, 2010, from injuries that he sustained when a 37-foot boat he was riding in crashed into a seawall near Cantry Canal at the end of Coral Point Drive in Cape Coral. The vessel topped the seawall and partially landed on land.
Williams, 36, of 2011 S.E. 13th St., Cape Coral, was reportedly driving the boat, while Balder and Eric J. Terpsman, 31, of 1041 S.E. 20th Ave., Cape Coral, were passengers. After the crash, the men were trauma-alerted to Lee Memorial Hospital with varying injuries.
While Williams and Terpsman were eventually discharged, Baldner was transferred to Gundersen Lutheran Health Center in Wisconsin. A website set up by his family documented his progress until Baldner was placed into hospice care and passed away.
The case was investigated by the FWC, which worked closely with the State Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation.