TAMPA – A Tampa man is charged with BUI manslaughter in a lethal boat crash in July 2024 appeared in courtroom on Monday.
Travis Stewart is charged with BUI manslaughter in reference to the boating crash that occurred close to the Howard Frankland Bridge on July 3, 2024.
The backstory:
Investigators say Stewart was working a 20-foot boat throughout Previous Tampa Bay with one passenger, Jonathan Boucvalt, 44, when he struck a barge close to the bridge.
Boucvalt was thrown from the boat and handed away from his accidents.
On Monday, investigators mentioned Stewart and Boucvalt, his cousin, have been boating by means of Previous Tampa Bay round 2 a.m., they usually have been headed towards the dock.
“As he was tending to the road, he had hit what he both believed to be a seawall or a buoy or one thing that ended up knocking him to the depth of the boat, inflicting him to lose consciousness briefly,” an FWC investigator mentioned.
Investigators say that when Stewart regained consciousness, Boucvalt was allegedly nowhere to be discovered.
What they’re saying:
“He started trying round inside the vessel, outdoors of the vessel,” and FWC investigator mentioned. “Was unable to seek out him.”
Investigators say Stewart went to his dad and mom’ home close by, however could not get ahold of anybody, so he drove to his home, the place 911 was known as.
Stewart’s legal professional says his cellphone was lifeless, so he could not instantly name for assist.
Nonetheless, investigators mentioned a few of the info did not add up, together with the placement of the crash.
Stewart’s legal professional says this might be defined by the traumatic mind harm and mind bleed that he suffered in the course of the crash.
“He was truly identified with amnesia inside an hour of being within the emergency room,” Stewart’s legal professional mentioned. “Had been you conscious of that? ‘I used to be not conscious of that’, the investigator mentioned. “Had been you conscious that he misplaced consciousness on the time of impression,” Stewart’s legal professional mentioned. ‘It was relayed to me in some unspecified time in the future that he might have misplaced consciousness,’ the investigator mentioned. “And it very properly might clarify the very fact the place he was confused in regards to the location of the incident,” Stewart’s legal professional mentioned.
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Stewart’s legal professional mentioned his cousin’s household has informed regulation enforcement that they do not wish to press prices.
On the pre-trial detention listening to on Monday, a Hillsborough County decide had stern phrases for Stewart.
“Your 911 name and your assertion to Investigator Carter on the hospital look like chilly, calculated, self-serving fiction,” thirteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Choose Christopher Sabella mentioned. “Your actions following this deadly accident are self-serving and extremely irresponsible.”
The decide mentioned Stewart would not pose a hazard to the group or a flight danger, however he promised a excessive bond with strict situations.
“The mixture of your fiction and your actions whereas your cousin was floating in Tampa Bay are evil,” Sabella mentioned.
What’s subsequent:
Stewart’s bond was set at $500,000. He may even be required to have GPS monitoring and a curfew, and he is not allowed to go away Hillsborough County or drive a ship or a automobile.
The Supply: FOX 13’s Kylie Jones gathered the knowledge for this story.
