The driver of the boat that killed the 9-year old girl
9-year-old killed, mom injured after boats collide on Lake George
By Kimberly Howard Monday, July 25th 2016
LAKE GEORGE, NY- The Warren County Sheriff's Office is releasing more information about a boat crash on Lake George that killed a 9-year-old girl and sent her mother to the hospital.
It happened when two boats collided near Cramer Point around 9:30 Monday night.
"The boat that hit the victims' boat went over the top of it. Hit it and jumped up over the top. The victim and her mother were in the middle where the boat was hit," Sheriff Bud York said. "It's perplexing, it's upsetting. Put yourself in that family's state of mind, frame of mind. What's the reason? And we will figure that out. I guarantee you."
York says so far no charges have been filed but deputies are identifying the driver of the boat that crashed into the victim's boat as Alexander West.
"We've taken blood tests. He's agreed to give some blood tests so we can see if that shows any kind of evidence whatsoever," York said. "He's been cooperative. He came in this morning."
York says West came to the Warren County Sheriff's Office roughly 12 hours after authorities say the crash happened. He says five people, including West, were riding in a 21-foot fiber glass boat when the crash happened but no one called 911. That boat was a 1997 Larson fiber glass 21-foot boat.
"The other parties left, went down to Tea Island Resort, parked their boat and went home from there," York said.
York says he believes not only did the group of friends know they hit something, he says he believes they knew they hit another boat.
The speed boat in question is now sporting a deep gash on the boat's underbelly.
"I'm not going to tell you what they say their story is, that's what we are investigating, but they did leave the scene. So there is some possible for culpability here," York said.
The sheriff is especially interested in speaking with people who were out on Lake George for Log Bay Day Monday.
Log Bay Day is an event that draws hundreds of people to Lake George each year and it is known for a lot of partying.
York released a picture of West as well as of his boat so people can see if they have pictures or video of either at Log Bay Day.
"The information we have is that they were there and I'm asking anybody that was at Log Bay if they have any video of Log Bay we'd like it," York said.
CBS6 did stop by West's Lake George home to get his side of story and while someone was home no one answered the door. CBS6 also called West's attorney Joshua Lindy but did not hear back before air time.