Driver In Weekend Boat Accident Charged With Vehicular Homicide
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The boat driver involved in last weekend's deadly Fourth of July accident in northern Minnesota is now charged with criminal vehicular homicide.
Court documents from Beltrami County show that 46-year-old Matthew Kinghorn, of Minnetonka, is charged with having a blood alcohol level over the legal limit in connection to the death of 50-year-old Brenda Larson.
According to a criminal complaint, Kinghorn admitted to drinking three Captain Morgan and cokes Saturday while out boating on Cass Lake. The boat crash happened after he hit a wave going about 25 mph, sending himself, his 3-year-old child and Larson flying from the boat.
While fishermen were able to help Kinghorn and his child out of the water, Larson was found unresponsive. She was taken to shore and later to Cass Lake Indian Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The complaint shows that Kinghorn cooperated with investigators following the crash. He submitted to field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test, which showed he had a blood alcohol level of .125. A sample of his blood was also set off for testing.
An autopsy showed that Larson's death was consistent with drowning, the complaint states. She had been a swim coach in Eden Prairie.
Her husband said on Monday that Kinghorn was his cousin. He added that he and his wife had gone boating on Cass Lake many times over the years.
Kinghorn has no prior DWI incidents and his license is valid, the complaint states.
If he is convicted of the criminal vehicular homicide charge, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
