Driver Of Boat Involved In Crash Pleads Not Guilty To 21 Charges

Jason Lindemann, the man accused of crashing his speed boat into a commercial paddlewheel cruise boat last July on the Fox River in Oshkosh has pleaded not
guilty in Winnebago Circuit Court yesterday.

Lindemann is charged with two counts of Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, 18 counts of Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid, and one count of Negligent Operation of a boat.

According to the criminal complaint, on July 9th of last year just before 10 PM, Oshkosh Police and Rescue were called for a report of several injuries related to the boat crash
after Lindemann’s 38-foot speedboat hit the paddlewheel cruiser which had 44 people on board.

GPS data showed Lindemanns boat going 46 mph in a no wake zone near the crash site.

About 15 minutes after the crash, the power boat passed by the cruiser and a witness heard someone from shore saying, “You hit me, you need to stop.” To which a reply in a
slurred voice came from Lindemann’s boat, “I didn’t see you.”

A passenger on the speedboat at the time of the crash said he had been drinking with Lindemann at a local establishment. He got on the powerboat with Lindemann,
who he identified as the driver.

Lindemann’s next hearing is scheduled for March 13.