Former University Baseball Player Arrested For Boating Crash That Killed Former Teammate
The Florida State Attorney’s office is charging a former university-level baseball player with manslaughter after he allegedly caused a boating crash that killed his former teammate.
PNJ.com reports that 26-year-old Walker O’Connor, a former baseball player for the University of West Florida, allegedly struck and killed 25-year-old Brandon “BJ” Harmon on June 13.
According to court documents, Harmon was riding a wakeboard while being towed by a boat when he was struck by another boat which O’Connor was piloting . Though boaters pulled Harmon from the water and gave him CPR, he died at the scene. After authorities arrived on the scene they subjected O’Connor to a field sobriety test and concluded that he showed signs of impairment.
Prosecutors originally arrested O’Connor in June 2019 and charged him with operating a boat while under the influence. Authorities arrested O’Connor again on Friday and charged him with vessel homicide and boating under the influence – manslaughter, PNJ.com reports.
After his Friday arrest authorities held O’Connor on $100,000 bond. He apparently made bond the same day.
Attorney John H. (Jack) Hickey and his team handle a wide range of cases, including but not limited to cruise ship accidents, admiralty and maritime accident cases, medical malpractice, wrongful death, premises liability, railroad accidents and car accidents. We represent victims from all over the nation, the world and the state of Florida.