DRESDEN, Maine — A Bowdoinham man has been charged with operating under the influence while boating following an Oct. 30 crash that seriously injured two women.
Douglas Stevenson, 44, was headed northbound in the Kennebec River in a 29-foot Four Winns powerboat when the boat ran aground near the south end of Swan Island between Dresden and Richmond, according to a release from the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
An investigation determined the boat was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash, according to the release.
Two of three passengers on board, both women from Michigan, suffered serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The Dresden Fire Department, Gardiner Fire Department and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office responded and Gardiner Rescue took the two women to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick.
Stevenson was summonsed by the Maine Marine Patrol for operating a watercraft under the influence. According to the release, his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
“This is a serious incident that underscores the importance of boating sober,” Maine Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish said in the release. “Operating a watercraft on Maine’s waterways is challenging enough but when operators are intoxicated and traveling at night, it can be a recipe for disaster.”
The crash remains under investigation and additional charges may be filed.