A tragic incident occurred on Harris Lake in North Carolina when a boater, Quinten Kight, drove drunk and struck swimmers, resulting in the death of 10-year-old Brooklyn Caroll and severe injuries to Jennifer Stehle, a school social worker. Prosecutors revealed that 39 empty beer cans were found on Kight’s boat, with seven of them shotgunned. Additionally, another 50 containers of alcohol were discovered in the water.
Kight, who was pulling tubers on his girlfriend’s boat, was unable to perform a sobriety test and is facing charges of serious injury by impaired boating, reckless boat operation, felony boating while impaired, and misdemeanor boating while impaired. There is a possibility that his charges could be elevated to second-degree murder.
Brooklyn, a fifth-grade student, tragically lost her life in the accident, while Stehle had to undergo amputation due to the severity of her injuries. Kight’s girlfriend, AnneMarie Flanigan, who owns the boat, was also arrested for allowing Kight to operate the boat while under the influence. She is facing charges related to boating while impaired.
Kight’s bond was set at $250,000, while Flanigan’s bond was set at $500,000. It was revealed that Kight had a prior DUI conviction in New Mexico in 2009 and pending hit-and-run charges from a 2023 incident in Moore County, North Carolina.
This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving, even while operating a boat. The loss of young Brooklyn Caroll and the severe injuries sustained by Jennifer Stehle highlight the devastating consequences of irresponsible actions on the water. It is essential for boaters to prioritize safety and responsible behavior to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.
