WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Grand jury may hear deadly boating crash case
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Christopher Austin
Brian Doherty
Sterling ForbesBy David Spunt - email
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The investigation into a boating accident that claimed three lives could go to trial after a new report was released by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries outlining the accident.
A night for fun and friends took a dangerous turn on May 16th when two boats collided, killing three Baton Rouge-area men. Christopher Austin, Brian Doherty, and Sterling Forbes died after their boat collided with another, driven by Jerry Jordan or Lafayette. Investigators say Jordan was intoxicated past the legal limit of .08.
"A reasonable person can infer there may be fault," said Assistant District Attorney Tony Clayton. Clayton won't say if Christopher Austin may also be at fault. Investigators believe Austin was driving the second boat that carried Doherty and Forbes. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries just completed a full investigation and Clayton plans to present the information to a grand jury. "I really want to keep this as sacred and solemn as I can, so the grand jurors can hear all the facts and let them make the decisions they need," he said.
Clayton says grand jury selection is underway. Jurors will meet to decide if there is enough evidence to charge Jordan with three counts of vehicular homicide. Jordan's attorney says his team has some evidence of its own and plans to give it to the district attorney's office to present to the grand jury. Clayton expects the grand jury to meet within the next few weeks.
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