Man Indicted In Fatal Chelmsford Jet Ski Crash

CHELMSFORD, MA – A Lowell man has been indicted in connection with a fatal jet ski crash on the Merrimack River in Chelmsford last summer. Douglas Dematos, 33, is charged with operating a vessel under the influence causing death.

Investigators believe Dematos was drunk on Aug. 13, 2017 when he hit 16-year-old Isabelle Silva's jet ski, knocking her into the river. Her body was recovered the next day.

"Officers conducted a preliminary investigation and learned that two jet skis had collided on the river, resulting in a female passenger on one of the jet skis being knocked into the water," Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney said in a statement at the time of the crash. "Officers determined that Dematos had been operating one of the jet skis and had allegedly been drinking alcohol prior to the collision."

Dematos was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following the crash.

See Also: Fatal Chelmsford Jet Ski Crash: Victim Remembered As 'Great Student,' Friend

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