manslaughter charge, thats it??? :devil: I swear, this system is a f#@!#$$KIN joke :notam:
Two drunk people hit themselves :hammer2: one dies the other is lives to pay for it the rest of his life.
I would like to hear more of the story :idea: sounds like mutual stupidity
A 27-year-old Yuma Marine is facing two felony charges in connection with an alcohol-related accident near Ferguson Lake over the weekend that claimed the life of a fellow Marine.
Ray Champion, who is assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, was booked on suspicion of vessel manslaughter and boating under the influence of alcohol, and is expected to be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. in Imperial County Superior Court.
"Preliminary investigation would suggest that (Champion) was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage," said Imperial County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Argandona, who is conducting the investigation.
The Marine is being held in the Imperial County jail on $50,000 bond. Similar to under Arizona law, the district attorney's office has 48 hours to file charges against Champion or he will have to be released.
Cpl. Jesse J. Menard, an air traffic controller stationed at MCAS, was killed Saturday after the personal watercraft he was riding collided with another personal watercraft allegedly operated by Champion, according to the Imperial County Sheriff's Office.
"The accident involved two personal watercraft, and at this point, appears to be a near head-on collision," Argandona said. "The suspect's vessel struck the front of other vessel and went directly over the second craft, striking the victim. It kind of rolled right over him."
Menard, 24, was transported by Sun Care Air Ambulance helicopter to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he died of head trauma, according to a news release from MCAS. That release stated the incident occurred at Martinez Lake.
Menard was slated to be deployed to Iraq soon.
MCAS officials did not release any more information about Champion.
Argandona said Imperial County deputies were dispatched Saturday afternoon to a reported vessel accident in an area on the river about three-quarters of a mile north of the entrance to Ferguson Lake.
"On arrival, a male adult was lying unconscious with fire paramedics doing CPR," Argandona said.
Argandona said Champion's blood-alcohol content tested over the .08 legal limit but would not release the exact level since the accident is still under investigation.
According to Argandona, Champion and Menard were friends.
Menard is survived by his wife, but she did not give permission to military authorities to have her name released.
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