Charges Filed in Fatal Lake George Boat Accident

By Thomas Hall

Published on February 09, 2007

The 2005 accident killed 20 tourists on the Ethan Allen tour boat.

Captain Richard Paris and Shoreline Cruises are charged with failing to have enough crew personnel on board the boat at the time of the accident. According to state navigation law, at least two crew members should have been present for the 47 passengers aboard. Paris was the only crew member working on the Ethan Allen that day.

The National Transportation Safety Board says its investigators believe that although the Ethan Allen was certified to handle 48 passengers and two crew members, the 40-foot vessel was overloaded and should have carried only a quarter of that. The NTSB says passenger capacity for the Ethan Allen was calculated in 1966, and that modifications made since then rendered it less stable. The boat's capacity should have been set at 14 people, the NTSB says.

The agency’s investigation suggests that the boat flipped over after being rocked by a wake from one or more passing vessels.

The grand jury’s charges could lead to a $250 fine and 15 days in jail.

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