Fatal Boston Boat Crash
Boston Man Indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter in Fatal Logan Airport Boat Crash
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Key Points
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Investigators say Shieh accessed the marina with a key card he was not authorized to use and regularly used a Freedom Boat Club boat, a operation the club prohibits at night.
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Cellphone video footage recovered by investigators shows Shieh inattentive at the helm, dancing and engaging with the women, with both hands off the wheel about six seconds before the crash.
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Authorities say Shieh invited Dankert and her friends onto a boat he said was his, even though he did not own a boat and commonly used a Freedom Boat Club vessel.
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The vessel involved lacked sufficient exterior lights to navigate at night, contributing to the danger of the operation.
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Union College released a statement praising Lizzie Dankert as an exceptional student-athlete, noting her passing as a profound loss for the campus community.
A 40-year-old Boston man has been indicted on involuntary manslaughter and operating a boat while intoxicated charges after a May crash near Logan Airport killed 24-year-old Elizabeth Dankert, a Union College soccer player. WHDH reports that Lawrence Shieh, who allegedly had a blood alcohol level around 0.20—more than twice the legal limit—met the victims at a Seaport bar and offered them a ride on a vessel he did not own. Shieh turned himself in as the indictment was announced, facing six counts including reckless operation and unauthorized airport zone entry.
The crash occurred at about 11:20 p.m. on May 13 when Shieh's boat struck Pier 4R at Logan Airport. Boston.com reports that two other women, both 23, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators recovered cellphone video showing Shieh dancing and steering with both hands off the wheel about six seconds before impact, while the vessel lacked proper nighttime lighting required for safe operation.
Unauthorized Access to Boat and Marina
Prosecutors allege Shieh accessed the Seaport marina using a key card he was not authorized to use. Universal Hub reports he regularly operated a Freedom Boat Club vessel despite club rules prohibiting nighttime boating. On the night of the crash, he invited Dankert and her friends onto the boat, falsely claiming it was his own.
Shieh did not own any boat and relied on using the Freedom Boat Club's vessel for his excursions. Fall River Reporter notes authorities determined he violated multiple club protocols and security measures, including operating the vessel outside authorized parameters and in a protected airport zone.
Reckless Operation Captured on Video Evidence
Cellphone footage recovered by investigators documents Shieh's inattention at the helm moments before the collision. The video shows him dancing and engaging with passengers, with both hands away from the steering wheel approximately six seconds before striking the pier. Boston.com reports the boat lacked sufficient exterior lights necessary for nighttime navigation, amplifying the danger of his operation in darkness near Logan's restricted airfield.
Victim Remembered as Standout Student-Athlete
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Dankert was a 24-year-old Union College alum and former soccer player. Fall River Reporter reports the college released a statement praising her as an exceptional student-athlete, calling her death a profound loss for the campus community. Her two friends were hospitalized but later released with injuries that were not life-threatening.
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