CORNELIUS, N.C. — A teenager is holding a boating safety event Saturday in remembrance of his girlfriend who was killed by an intoxicated boater last summer.
Jack Ezzell was knee boarding on Lake Norman with Sheyenne Marshall and some of her friends and family on July 4 when she was killed.
To prevent more boating deaths, Ezzell planned the Shine On Boating Safety Day as part of his Eagle Scout project.
The event kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday and is part of the annual In-Water Spring Boat Show held at the Peninsula Yacht Club in Cornelius.
Ezzell and Capt. Harry Smith will set up a drunken boater obstacle course that will show participants how impairment impacts a boater with the use of goggles that simulate drunken boating.
The Lake Norman Power Squadron will conduct free vessel safety checks. The Cornelius Police Department, Boat U.S. and Sea Tow will also educate participants.
“Out of a horrific tragedy comes a very powerful program to enhance the awareness and importance of boating safety. In addition to the lake region organizations that are participating, the example of the strength of Jack’s program has generated recognition by the National Safe Boating Council, the U.S. Sailing Hall of Fame and North Carolina elected officials. Jack’s program at the yacht club comes one week prior to National Safe Boating Week,” David Goodman, with the Peninsula Yacht Club Fleet Committee, said.
Rep. John Fraley and Rep. Larry Pittman are working to make penalties tougher for impaired boating.
House bill 958, also known as Sheyenne’s Law, would make it a felony when a boater kills or seriously injures someone while impaired.
The bill would make death by impaired boating a Class D felony punishable by a maximum of 17 years in prison.
Keith Cerven, the man driving the boat that killed Marshall, is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge, a Class F felony punishable by a maximum of 16 months in prison.
The bill passed the North Carolina House of Representatives on May 12 and will go on to the Senate.
Resources
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/CPEHEMYETVGMXPGPMRCU32QFJM.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/B66UXM72ABEELMKA2MVXGHIXTE.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/IECLZ25KHBB2RL4UE2PRALJAZA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/YDTPPVXIA5GRDKQOJPT3E72GFU.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/A5NI5BIBVVAQXOHZGYG6WHSYFY.jpg)