Prosecutors allege that Quinten Kita was responsible for the death of a 10-year-old girl while driving under the influence on a North Carolina lake.
Kita, 40, was reportedly operating his girlfriend’s boat while intoxicated, engaging in tubing activities on Harris Lake, located about 25 miles from Raleigh, when he struck a swimmer, according to reports.
The tragic incident resulted in the death of Brooklyn Carroll, as well as severe injuries to Jennifer Stele, a 41-year-old school social worker, who faced the loss of her leg due to the crash.
Chatham County District Attorney Jeff Neiman disclosed in a hearing that 39 empty beer cans were discovered on Kita’s boat, with seven seemingly from shotguns.
The details on how many individuals were aboard the boat at the time of the accident remain unclear.
Authorities found it challenging to conduct a sobriety test on Kita, as, according to the DA, he was not able to follow their instructions. Blood test results following the incident are still pending.
Brooklyn, a fifth grader at Westlake Elementary School, succumbed to her injuries after undergoing an amputation.
Stele, who also worked at the same school, was airlifted to a hospital and, as reports state, is in stable condition.
Kita reportedly was looking backward when he hit the victim, as described by officials.
Kita is facing charges including serious bodily injury due to boat operation in a reckless manner, along with a felony and misdemeanor related to operating a boat while impaired. There are indications that prosecutors may elevate his charges to second-degree murder.
Annemarie Flanigan, Kita’s 56-year-old girlfriend and the boat’s owner, was arrested for permitting him to operate the vessel while intoxicated. She faces two felony counts and a misdemeanor related to the incident.
Reports indicate that Kita’s bond is set at $250,000, while Flanigan’s is at $500,000.
Previously, Kita was convicted for driving under the influence in New Mexico back in 2009 and has outstanding hit-and-run charges from a separate incident in Moore County, North Carolina, earlier this year.
