A 26-year-old man has been charged after being involved in what the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is calling a ‘dangerous boating incident’.
Officers say that, on July 5, city park rangers began an investigation after receiving multiple reports of a powerboat that had operated in a reckless manner on Whitemud Creek during the afternoon of June 24.
The complaints alleged that four people were in a powerboat travelling at a high rate of speed in narrow and shallow water. This resulted in the boat just barely avoiding collisions with several canoes that were also in the creek at the same time.
The boat continued downstream at high speeds and eventually hit a downed tree in the water, rendering it immobile. The people on the boat were able to get out and free the boat and continued to drive it further down the creek. Luckily, no injuries were reported.
Acting EPS detective Ben Davis says that investigators were provided video of the boat from onlookers.
“The risk of serious injury or death to those who were out on the water at the time was a real possibility and totally unnecessary,” said Davis.
The investigation led to the driver of the boat, Colton Goodkey, being charged with one count of dangerous operation of a conveyance.
“Everyone has the right to enjoy our creeks and rivers safely. Reckless and unlawful activity like this puts people’s lives at unnecessary risk,” said Zain Haji, a park ranger with the city of Edmonton’s marine unit.
“We are grateful to the public for reporting this incident and to our partners at EPS for working on this investigation with us and for laying these charges.”
The EPS are still looking for more information on the incident and are asking anybody who might have more video of the boat to contact them at 780-423-4567.
