BCSO wraps crash probe

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County Sheriff’s investigation has determined that Jay Edgar Smith was behind the wheel during a deadly boating crash on Lake Pend Oreille last month.

Smith was killed and three occupants were injured when the boat ran aground at Sourdough Point on the night of Aug. 13. The investigation further concluded that drugs and alcohol were factors in the crash.

The drugs involved and level of intoxication were not divulged. County officials contend a provision in Idaho’s boating law prohibits the release of toxicology results unless it’s for anonymous statistical purposes.

Smith, an Oden Bay resident, was 44.

The fateful outing began between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., when Brent Sisson drove the boat from Garfield Bay to the waters off Memorial Field to listen to a Festival at Sandpoint concert. Also aboard the 18-foot Bayliner were Elaine Pierce Sisson, Michael Ryan McDermott and Smith.

McDermott, 38, told investigators they weighed anchor before the show ended and he took the wheel on the return trip back to Garfield Bay. After passing beneath the highway and railroad bridges, they rendezvoused with another vessel and traded passengers.

Brent Sisson got onto the other boat and Bryan Michael Sisson got onto the boat McDermott was driving, McDermott told sheriff’s deputies. The other boat departed toward Sagle, followed by McDermott.

At some point, Smith asked to take the wheel, according to McDermott.

“McDermott said they were going slow while he was driving and that may have been why Smith wanted to drive after they traveled a short distance. Jay said he wanted to drive because he was familiar with the lake,” Det. Phyllis Jay said in her report detailing the McDermott interview.

McDermott said Smith did not appear intoxicated, but added that Smith could drink a lot, the report said.

The other boat departed toward Bottle Bay, though McDermott thought it should have been bound for Garfield. The next thing he remembered was coming to at Kootenai Medical Center, the report said.

The vessel struck a rocky spit protruding from the shoreline, reportedly ejecting Bryan Sisson, 39, and trapping the other three in the bow. Smith was unresponsive and lacking a pulse.

Smith’s injuries corroborated witness statements that he was at the helm when the boat hit shore, according to the crash investigation report. Severe wounds to Smith’s chest were consistent with hitting the boat’s windscreen.

McDermott told investigators he was seated behind Smith with his feet in the aisle. McDermott’s injuries — a laceration on his right bicep, a laceration on the right side of his chin, fracturing on the right side of his jaw and a large abrasion to his left knee — were inconsistent with being in the driver’s seat, the investigation determined.

Sheriff’s Lt. Cary Kelly said the primary factors in the crash included speed, inattention, improper lookout and darkness. Alcohol and drugs were listed as secondary factors.

The circumstances of the crash are similar to a July 3 collision in which two people died after hitting the Long Bridge at a high rate of speed.

“It’s almost word-for-word as the other crash,” said Kelly.