2 People Seriously Injured In Possible BUI-Related Boat Accident

PASADENA, FL — Pinellas County Sheriff's marine deputies are investigating a boat crash that seriously injured two people in South Pasadena Saturday.

At 6:10 p.m. July 27, Ryan Craft, 24, of Orlando attempted to make a left turn in an 18-foot 1999 Hewes boat to head west toward the Intracostal Waterway. During this turn, the front of the boat collided with a seawall at 8041 Sailboat Key Blvd., ejecting two of the five occupants of the boat.

The ejected passengers were 23-year-old Melia Garcia of St. Petersburg and 29-year-old Stephanie Ludwig of St. Petersburg. Garcia was uninjured. Ludwig suffered serious injuries. Andrew Mentch of Treasure Island, 30, was not ejected, but was seriously injured in the collision. He and Ludwig were transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.

Craft and 25-year-old Thaddasone Phepsavath of Pinellas Park were uninjured.

Speed appears to be a factor in the crash. This area is posted a slow speed/minimum wake zone.Boating under intoxication-related charges are pending the results of a blood draw.