OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is speaking out about the July 9 boat crash on the Fox River in Oshkosh.
It says the investigation and all information has now been handed over to the county’s district attorney’s office to handle.
The powerboat, with seven onboard, crashed into the On the Loos Cruises’ paddleboat carrying 43 passengers. The crash, which injured seven people, occurred between the Oregon Street bridge and the Wisconsin Street bridge.
The crash was particularly note-worthy because it was a hit and run.
The sheriff’s office says Jason Lindemann, a fairly prominent figure in the community, was the driver.
After three days of allegedly being on the run, Lindemann turned himself in.
The 52-year-old was arrested and has since been released from jail on bond.
Officials are recommending he be charged with 12 counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and 11 misdemeanor counts of failure to render aid after a boating accident.
One conspiracy theory Sheriff John Matz wants to dispel, claims that high-ranking government officials were on the powerboat that allegedly fled.
“It takes away from the severity of the offense. It takes away from the victims that were actually on-scene and were impacted by this,” said Matz. “There’s absolutely no truth to that; that’s pure speculation, and that’s the downside to social media.”
Many in the community have wondered why the investigation is taking so long.
“Anytime someone flees the scene, it adds issues to our investigation,” explained Matz. “We have to make sure that he or she is the operator before the crash, during the crash and after the crash. So, there’s a lot that goes into that investigation. We need to do it right — that’s why it’s taking a little longer.”
For days, the sheriff’s office sought to locate and speak to the other six passengers on the powerboat but to no avail.
Matz says that the other passengers will not be charged.
Formal charges have yet to be filed against Lindemann, so a criminal complaint has yet to be released.
FOX 11 also reached out to Lindemann’s attorney, along with the owner of the hit paddleboat but did not hear back.
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