Suspects in fatal boat crash on Coldwater Lake turn themselves in

Video above shows initial coverage of the fatal boat crash in August.

BRANCH COUNTY, Mich. (WANE) – A couple from Fort Wayne turned themselves in Thursday in connection to a fatal boat crash on Coldwater Lake back in August.

Police initially believed a 15-year-old was driving the speed boat that crashed into another around 11 p.m. on Aug. 3, causing one boat to end up on top of the other and killing one of its occupants.

But the probable cause affidavit revealed investigators determined the teenager wasn’t driving the boat; rather, her parents were allegedly responsible. The Branch County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday that Zachary Adams, 44, and Tasha Adams, 43, turned themselves in.

The man driving the other boat, 46-year-old Cory C. Butler of Grabill, was impaled by the boat’s ski pylon, investigators said in court documents, adding it took some time to free Butler from the boat. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

According to court documents, “the two boats were traveling together in the dark.” Investigators determined the lights on Butler’s boat were not on when Zachary, who was allegedly speeding between 22-41 mph, crashed into it.

There is not a law in the state of Michigan for speed limits on the water.

Zachary allegedly left the scene before police could talk with him, but once they did find him, officers noted in court documents they could smell “a strong odor of intoxicants.” While Zachary did admit he was the one who put a cup of alcohol in the boat that investigators found, he maintained that his daughter had been behind the wheel because he “was too drunk to drive.”

Police also wrote in court documents it appeared that not only was Zachary impaired, but he had been crying.

Court documents show Zachary Adams faces charges including negligent crippling homicide, fourth-degree child abuse, false reporting of a felony, and reckless operation of a vessel/ reckless skiing. Tasha Adams faces charges of false reporting of a felony, conspiracy to commit false reporting of a felony, and accessory after the fact to a felony.

The couple was booked into the Branch County Jail but released on bond– $5,000 for Zachary and $2,500 for Tasha.

Arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 21.

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