MONTICELLO – A Circleville
man has been arrested by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office in
connection with a boat crash on the Swinging Bridge Reservoir on Sunday,
July 2.
Michael LaBagh, 27, turned himself on Tuesday, July 18 at the sheriff’s
office in Monticello. He was charged with reckless operation of a vessel,
two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to notify
of a petroleum spill, all misdemeanors. He was also charged under state
navigation law with the violations of unregistered vessel and no navigation
lights.
LaBagh allegedly operated a speed boat on the night of July 2 that collided
with a pontoon boat near the Starlight Marina. LaBagh’s boat sank,
but a passenger and he were rescued by the pontoon boat occupants. The
occupants of the pontoon boat were injured in the crash.
When that boat reached shore, LaBagh and his passenger are said to have
jumped out and ran into the woods.
The next day, divers recovered LaBagh’s speed boat from the bottom
of the lake.
The investigation did not immediately lead to LaBagh as the ownership
of the boat changed hands several times without it being properly registered.
LaBagh was released on his own recognizance.
Investigators from the sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit are conferring
with the District Attorney’s Office on possible additional charges.
