DNR report cites alcohol and speed as factors in Fox River boating accident

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) — The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office released video Thursday of a motorboat colliding with a night cruiser on the Fox River earlier this month. He also released the DNR accident report which identifies Jason Lindemann, 52, as the owner and operator of the motorboat and indicates that alcohol and excessive speed were among several factors in the accident, which happened shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday July 9.

The video shows Lindemann’s four-engine powerboat passing in front of the waterway camera, then tracing a wide arc directly into the path of the sternwheeler On the Loos. Both boats are rocked by the collision. The sternwheeler drifts to the left of the camera while the motorboat continues to float to the right.

Passengers say the motorboat operator dimmed the lights as they left the scene. Prosecutors say Lindemann left without asking if anyone on the larger boat needed help.

The DNR estimates the motorboat was traveling between 21 and 40 miles per hour when it crashed into the double-decker pedal boat, which was traveling less than 10 MPH.

The DNR accident report says there were 43 people on the sternwheeler. Twelve suffered injuries that required treatment beyond first aid. One, a 48-year-old woman from Oshkosh, was hospitalized with a back injury. Most of the other injuries were sprains and strains to the back, leg, neck or shoulder.

The report confirms that Lindemann was the driver of the motorboat. Through the DNR report, we learn for the first time that a passenger on his boat received medical treatment. A 57-year-old man from Oshkosh suffered a back injury and cuts to his face.

The accident report states that careless/reckless driving, alcohol consumption, excessive speed, improper supervision, violation of navigation rules and operator inattention all contributed to the accident.

Lindemann appeared in court last week and was released after posting $10,000 bond. He was only arrested on Tuesday, three days after the accident. The DNR report says he did not take a blood alcohol test. In court last week, prosecutors said Lindemann was on security camera before the crash drinking inside the bar he owns, Dockside Tavern. Lindemann’s lawyer said it was impossible to prove whether it was alcohol in the glass.

We are still awaiting criminal charges and a criminal complaint to be filed with the court, so it is unclear when Lindemann will make his next court appearance.

No charges have been recommended against any of the seven passengers aboard his boat.

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