19-117 Marine Deputies Investigate A Boat Crash That Seriously Injured Two Passengers In South Pasadena

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
-Patrol Operations Bureau
-Marine & Environment Lands Unit

Ryan Craft (Driver- Uninjured)
DOB: 08/31/1994
Address: 2700 Harriet Drive, Orlando, FL.
Vessel: 1999 Hewes 18 foot center console boat with an outboard engine

Thaddasone Phepsavath (Passenger- Uninjured)
DOB: 05/04/1994
Address: 6750 Park Boulevard North Apartment 101B Pinellas Park
Vessel: 1999 Hewes 18 foot center console boat with an outboard engine

Melia M. Garcia (Passenger- Uninjured)
DOB: 02/28/1996
Address: 2500 Dartmouth Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Vessel: 1999 Hewes 18 foot center console boat with an outboard engine

Stephanie Nicole Ludwig (Passenger- Injured)
DOB: 01/28/1990
Address: 1911 Arrowhead Drive Northeast, St. Petersburg
Vessel: 1999 Hewes 18 foot center console boat with an outboard engine

Andrew Robert Barsigian Mentch (Passenger- Injured)
DOB: 05/01/1989
Address: 1 Key KY Apartment Capri 405 West, Treasure Island
Vessel: 1999 Hewes 18 foot center console boat with an outboard engine

What:
Deputies assigned to the Marine & Environmental Lands Unit are investigating a boat crash that seriously injured two passengers.

When:
The crash occurred at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2019.

Where:
The crash occurred on the seawall at 8041 Sailboat Key Boulevard in South Pasadena

Why/How:
Deputies assigned to the Marine & Environmental Lands Unit are investigating a crash that seriously injured two passengers.

24 year old Ryan Craft was operating an 18 foot center console northbound, behind 8041 Sailboat Key Boulevard in South Pasadena, This area is posted a slow speed/minimum wake zone.

Craft attempted to make a left turn to travel westbound, towards the Intracostal Waterway. During this turn, the front of the vessel collided with a seawall, ejecting 2 of the 5 occupants.

The ejected passengers were 23 year old Melia Garcia and 29 year old Stephanie Ludwig. Garcia was uninjured, however Ludwig suffered serious injuries.

Andrew Mentch, age 30, was not ejected, but was seriously injured from the collision. He and Ludwig were both transported to Bayfront Health hospital.

Craft and 25 year old Thaddasone Phepsavath also remained on the boat after the collision and were uninjured.

Speed appears to be a factor in the crash. BUI related charges are pending the results of a blood draw. 

The investigation continues.