Man Accused Of Drinking While Boating In Indian Rocks Beach Crash

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FL — Pinellas County Sheriff's marine unit deputies have arrested a Washington man for boating under the influence following a boat crash on Indian Rocks Beach.

The accident occurred at 5:10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 in the Intracoastal Waterway just east of 373 12th Ave. in Indian Rocks Beach.

Kirk Johnson, 62, of Maple Valley, Washington, was operating a 23-foot Yamaha jet boat, heading south in the Intracoastal Waterway with five passengers on board.

Flavio Irizarry, 61, was operating a 21-foot Grady White boat, heading north in the same area with two passengers aboard.

Deputies say the boats were approaching each other when Irizarry noticed the Yamaha weaving back and forth. The Yamaha then swerved directly toward Irizarry's boat. Irizarry attempted to steer out of the path but the Yamaha struck the rear of the Grady White, ripping off the outboard motor and exposing the transom.

Witnesses told deputies the crash sent the Yamaha airborne and all six occupants were ejected from the boat into the water.

Deputies say the unmanned Yamaha was still powered as it circled the area uncontrollably before traveling east and crashing into a nearby dock and an unoccupied 24-foot Pathfinder boat.

Bystanders were helping to pull the boaters from the water when marine unit deputies arrived to help with the rescue.

Paramedics responded and transported 68-year-old Gaylord Stanton, a passenger in the Yamaha, to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Sixteen-year-old Jason Irizarry, a passenger on the Grady White, was transported to All Children's Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The other occupants of the Yamaha — Johnson, 56-year-old Linda Corrigan, 56-year-old David Corrigan, 63-year-old Lori Battisfore, and 65-year-old Edwin Battisfore — declined medical treatment.

The other occupants on the Grady White — Irizarry and 19-year-old Warren Irizarry —also declined medical treatment.

During the investigation, deputies noticed that Johnson showed signs of impairment. He agreed to perform field sobriety tests, and performed poorly. Deputies say Johnson submitted to a breath sample which indicated he had a blood-alcohol level of .149/.145. The legal limit in Florida is .08.

Johnson was charged with one count of boating under the influence.