Boater Accused Of Killing Jet Skier Charged With Manslaughter

MADEIRA BEACH, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has arrested a Redington Beach man they say was responsible for running over a jet skier with his boat Aug. 30.

Deputies arrested Jesse Mayer, 35, at his attorney's office at 5250 Ulmerton Road Monday and charged him with boating under the influence manslaughter, child neglect, reckless operation of a vessel and violation of navigation rules.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the accident happened Friday, Aug. 30 at 4:50 p.m. in the Intracoastal Waterway just north of the Tom Stuart Causeway.

Robert Krysztofowicz, 56, of East Aurora, New York, was operating a Yamaha jet ski, traveling north in the Intracoastal Waterway. Deputies say Mayer was operating a 37-foot center console Freeman boat, traveling north at 73 mph through a slow wake zone, when he struck the rear of Krysztofowicz' jet ski and then ran him over.

The sheriff's office said there was a 9-year-old girl in the boat at the time of the crash.

Krysztofowicz was brought to the Madeira Beach Marina at 503 150th Ave. where he was pronounced dead.

According to the sheriff's office, Mayer showed signs of impairment when interviewed by deputies. A blood-alcohol test administered nearly three hours after the accident showed an alcohol concentration of .102. The legal limit is .08.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation records show that Mayer is a licensed charter boat captain.

See related story: Jet Ski Operator Killed After Boat Runs Over Him In Madeira Beach