19-236 Marine Unit Deputies Arrest Man For Boating Under The Influence Following A Boat Crash In Indian Rocks Beach
Boat Crash- BUI Arrest
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Marine Unit
Kirk Johnson (Driver- Arrested)
DOB: 12/8/1956
Address: 25429 213th Avenue SE, Unit 41, Maple Valley, Washington
Vessel: 23 foot Yamaha jet boat
Charges: Boating Under the Influence
Linda Corrigan (Passenger- Uninjured)
DOB: 6/26/1963
Vessel: 23 foot Yamaha jet boat
David Corrigan (Passenger- Uninjured)
DOB: 5/4/1963
Vessel: 23 foot Yamaha jet boat
Lori Battisfore (Passenger- Uninjured)
DOB: 12/1/1955
Vessel: 23 foot Yamaha jet boat
Edwin Battisfore (Passenger- Uninjured)
DOB: 12/19/1953
Vessel: 23 foot Yamaha jet boat
Gaylord Stanton (Passenger- Injured)
DOB: 12/19/1950
Vessel: 23 foot Yamaha jet boat
Flavio Irizarry (Driver- Uninjured)
DOB: 3/10/1958
Vessel: 21 foot Grady White
Warren Irizarry (Passenger- Uninjured)
DOB: 11/30/1999
Vessel: 21 foot Grady White
Jason Irizarry (Passenger- Injured)
DOB: 10/3/2002
Vessel: 21 foot Grady White
What:
Deputies assigned to the Marine Unit arrest a man for Boating Under the Influence following a boat crash in Indian Rocks Beach.
When:
The incident occurred at about 5:10 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2019.
Where:
The incident occurred in the Intracoastal Waterway just east of 373 12th Avenue, in Indian Rocks Beach.
Why/How:
According to deputies, at about 5:10 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2019, 62-year-old Kirk Johnson was operating a 23 foot Yamaha jet boat and was traveling southbound in the Intracoastal Waterway east of 373 12th Avenue, in Indian Rocks Beach, with five passengers on board.
A 21 foot Grady White boat being operated by 61-year-old Flavio Irizarry, was traveling northbound approaching the same area with two passengers on board.
Deputies say both vessels were approaching each other when Irizarry observed the Yamaha weaving back and forth. The Yamaha then took a course directly towards Irizarry’s Grady White.
Irizarry attempted to steer out of the path of the oncoming vessel but he could not avoid the collision. The Yamaha struck the rear of the Grady White, ripping off the outboard motor and exposing the transom.
Witnesses told deputies the crash sent the Yamaha airborne and all six occupants were ejected from the boat and into the water.
Deputies say the unmanned Yamaha was still powered as it circled the area uncontrollably before traveling eastbound and crashing into a nearby dock and an unoccupied 24 foot Pathfinder boat.
Deputies say Good Samaritans were helping to pull the boaters from the water when Marine Unit deputies arrived to help with the water rescue.
Paramedics responded and transported 68-year-old Gaylord Stanton, a passenger in the Yamaha, to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Sixteen-year-old Jason Irizarry, a passenger on the Grady White, was transported to All Children’s Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The other occupants of the Yamaha, Kirk Johnson, 56-year-old Linda Corrigan, 56-year-old David Corrigan, 63-year-old Lori Battisfore, and 65-year-old Edwin Battisfore all declined medical treatment at the scene.
The other occupants on the Grady White, Flavio Irizarry and 19-year-old Warren Irizarry, declined medical treatment at the scene.
During the course of the investigation, Marine Unit deputies noted Johnson showed signs of impairment. Johnson agreed to perform Field Sobriety Tests, but he performed poorly on them.
Deputies say Johnson submitted to a breath sample which indicated he had a BrAC of .149/.145.
Deputies arrested Johnson and he was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
Johnson was charged with one count of Boating Under the Influence.
Deputies say the Grady White vessel sunk due to the extensive damage. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the hazard and efforts to remove the vessel will continue in the coming days.
The investigation continues.
