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Source: Reuters
CLEVELAND, Reuters via Individual Inc. : The man who was driving a water ski boat that crashed Aug. 17 into a crowded grandstand at Sea World of Ohio was charged Tuesday with driving the boat too fast and another misdemeanor, a local court said.
The charges came despite state investigators' findings that mechanical failure caused the accident.
The 18-foot, jet-propelled ski boat skimmed off the water and into the stands at a crowded weekend show, injuring 24 spectators. One man remained hospitalized Tuesday, in stable condition with a head injury, a Cleveland hospital said.
A contractor operated the ski show until the accident, when Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. <BUD.N> suspended all such shows at its four Sea World parks pending a safety review, Anheuser-Busch spokesman Steve LeResche said.
A municipal court said the driver, Andy Schleis, 25, was charged with excessive speed and failure to take action to avoid a collision. Each is a misdemeanor carrying a possible 30-day jail sentence and a $250 fine, Chardon, Ohio, municipal prosecutor James Gillette said.
The contractor that operated the ski show, <World Entertainment Services> of Winter Park, Fla., was charged with failure to have flotation devices, distress signals and an anchor aboard the boat, the Chardon Municipal Court said.
[08-27-96 at 19:19 EDT, Copyright 1996, Reuters America Inc.]
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