Sunrise Beach man charged in fatal August boat accident at Lake of the Ozarks
CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Sunrise Beach man has been charged after he was accused of causing a fatal boat crash in August at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Bobby Gene Childers, 60, was charged on Monday with three boating while intoxicated charges: Causing the death of another, causing serious physical injury and causing physical injury. An initial court appearance is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9. A warrant for his arrest was requested. He is not currently in the Camden County Jail, according to online jail records.
According to previous reporting, a crash occurred just before 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at the 24 mile marker on the main channel at the lake. Nicholette McKenna was killed in the crash that occurred when the boat got too close to the dock, hit a wake and then hit the breakwater, according to the report. She was 44.
The report indicates that two other people were injured and brought to Lake Regional Hospital.
According to the probable cause statement, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the crash and found McKenna dead with a large cut to her midsection.
Childers was allegedly identified at the hospital with injuries, the statement says. The trooper wrote that Childers allegedly smelled like alcohol and had slurred speech, among other factors indicating he was intoxicated, the statement says.
The statement later said Childers’ blood alcohol content was .161
Childers allegedly told law enforcement that he drank too much and was heading from one lake bar to another. He also allegedly said he is known as “Bud Light Bobby,” according to the report. He allegedly admitted to driving the boat and another trooper reported seeing him drive it.
A passenger of the boat referred to the driver as “Bud Light Bobby,” according to the statement. Multiple witnesses and passengers allegedly told troopers that Childers was “purposely jumping waves behind large cruisers and asked to stop by subjects on board.”
