Arrest made in Broad River boat crash that killed two people, SC official says
A man was arrested on multiple charges following a boat crash that killed two people, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said Monday.
Jail records show Dylan Yancey Steele, 26, was charged Sunday, hours after the two-boat collision on the Broad River.
The collision between two Jon boats happened at about 9 p.m. Saturday, in a section of the river that’s near Hill Creek, Capt. Robert McCullough told The State.
Steele was driving one of three boats that was part of the same group on the river, according to McCullough. While the other vessels in the party in front of Steele stopped to make sure no other boats were coming, he ran over the second boat, going over the top of the other watercraft, McCullough said.
Chapin resident Jamie Lindler, 27, and Irmo’s Andrew Bunnell, 28, were on board that second boat and were killed in the collision, Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece said.
No other injuries were reported.
Kneece said autopsies are pending.
Steele was taken to the Newberry County Detention Center, where he was charged with two counts of DUI in a water device resulting in death, or BUI, in addition to operating a boat without navigational lights, according to McCullough.
Bond was set at $10,000 on the BUI charges, and $200 for the watercraft violation, but Steele remains behind bars, jail records show.
Lexington County court records show over the past six years, Steele has been arrested multiple times and paid fines for traffic infractions, including driving too fast for conditions and seat belt violations.
“It’s a shame when a tragedy like this happens and there is a loss of life,” McCullough said.
To stay safe, especially at night, McCullough asked boaters to keep a lookout, keep the vessel’s lights on, for everyone on board to wear a life jacket, and don’t drink and drive.
“We want everybody to enjoy themselves, but we want everybody to get home and to be safe,” McCullough said.
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This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 10:52 AM with the headline "Arrest made in Broad River boat crash that killed two people, SC official says."
