The intoxicated captain had a child on board and was later charged with manslaughter
A Redington Beach man who was arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for running over and killing a jet skier while drunk has been charged with manslaughter.
The accident happened over Labor Day weekend.
Jesse Mayer, 35, was speeding at 73 mph through a no wake zone when he hit Robert Krysztofowicz, 56, of East Aurora, New York.
Krysztofowicz was riding a Yamaha jet ski when the 37-foot center console Freeman boat struck him.
The boat actually pulled Krysztofowicz and his jet ski under it, causing fatal injuries.
He was taken to the Madeira Beach Marina after the incident and was pronounced dead.
Well over the legal limit
Authorities tested Mayer’s blood-alcohol level after he showed signs of impairment while deputies interviewed him. His alcohol concentration was .102 even three hours after the accident.
This exceeded the legal limit for impairment in Florida, which is .08. However, since Mayer is a licensed boating captain, his legal threshold is even lower.
Mayer’s 9-year-old daughter was also on board the boat when he ran over Krysztofowicz.
Deputies arrested Mayer on September 9, 2019, at 4:17 p.m. at his attorney’s office and took him to the Pinellas County Jail.
He was charged with BUI Manslaughter, Vessel Homicide, Child Neglect, Reckless Operation of a Vessel, and Violation of Navigation Rules.
Authorities will continue to investigate this tragic incident.
