A tragic boating accident on a North Carolina lake has left a 10-year-old girl dead and a woman severely injured, sparking an investigation into the boater’s actions.
Quinten Gregory Kight, 40, was arrested and charged after crashing into a group of swimmers, resulting in the death of Brooklyn Mae Carroll and the amputation of a woman’s leg.
The Deadly Crash at Shearon Harris Reservoir
On Saturday afternoon, Kight was driving his boat on Shearon Harris Reservoir in Chatham County when he struck three swimmers who were about 100 feet off shore.
The crash killed 10-year-old Brooklyn Mae Carroll and caused serious injury to another woman, whose left leg was amputated above the knee after being struck by the boat’s propeller. The accident has devastated Brooklyn’s family, who are now planning her funeral.
The Role of Alcohol in the Tragedy
Authorities discovered that Kight had dozens of beer cans on board the boat when the crash occurred. In total, 39 beer cans were found in the vessel, and another six cans were believed to have been on board at the time.
Prosecutors also mentioned evidence that people were “shotgunning” beers, a term used for quickly consuming alcohol. Kight was reportedly distracted, looking behind him at the tubers he was hauling rather than focusing on the water in front of him when the incident happened.
Charges and Criminal History
Kight faces serious charges, including operating a motor vessel while under the influence, causing death, and causing serious injury by impaired boating. Authorities have also taken a blood sample from Kight to test his blood alcohol content, though the results have not been released yet.
Kight is currently in Chatham County Jail with a $500,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 20. Additionally, Kight has a separate hit-and-run case pending in Moore County and a prior DUI conviction in New Mexico from 2010.
A Community in Mourning
Brooklyn’s family described her as a bright, loving young girl with a smile that could light up any room. A GoFundMe page created in her honor states, “Her laughter, kindness, and energy brought so much joy to her family and friends.”
The tragic accident has left the community devastated, and Brooklyn’s family is mourning the loss of a young life that was taken too soon.
