A day on the lake turned into a nightmare after a boat crash left a 10-year-old girl dead and a woman seriously injured—and now a North Carolina man is facing serious charges.
Quinten Knight, 40, has been charged with operating a boat while impaired and causing death by impaired boating after allegedly slamming into a group of swimmers on Harris Lake in Chatham County. The tragic incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, according to WRAL News and CBS 17.
Knight is accused of crashing a Tiger Wake Boat—belonging to his girlfriend—into the water where Jennifer Stehle and Brooklyn Mae Carroll, 10, were swimming. Both were struck. Brooklyn did not survive the injuries she sustained. Jennifer was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition and later had one of her legs amputated above the knee. Surgeons are reportedly working to save her other leg.
The two victims were not related. Jennifer’s sister-in-law, Kristie Stehle, described the crash as “a terrible tragedy that never should’ve happened,” and said the family is “traumatized and forever changed.”
Authorities allege Knight was under the influence of an impairing substance at the time of the crash. A warrant claims he “unintentionally caused the death” of Brooklyn, and wildlife officials say he was arrested shortly afterward at the Cross Point Access Area.
Knight also reportedly has a pending hit-and-run charge from two years ago.
Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson called the incident “heartbreaking and preventable.”
“Alcohol was a factor, and the decision to operate a boat while impaired had devastating consequences,” Roberson said. “It only takes a moment for lives to be changed forever.”
He thanked the deputies, first responders, and medical professionals who jumped into action and asked the public to keep the victims’ families in their thoughts.
Kristie Stehle also released a public plea: “My family and friend did everything right, but because of a series of reckless and selfish decisions, both families are now left traumatized… Please think before you act. Your decision, no matter how small, can have life-altering consequences for good, loving, hardworking, Christian people who deserve peace—not pain.”
A GoFundMe launched to help cover Jennifer’s medical expenses has raised over $13,000 toward a $35,000 goal. The fundraiser describes Jennifer as a wife, mother, and school social worker now facing a long road to recovery.
Other boaters on Harris Lake voiced outrage and heartbreak after the tragedy.
“Drinking and driving on a boat is next-level reckless,” said boater Craig Schnier. “It’s hard to believe someone could do something like this. Boating should be about family and fun—not horror.”
“You can’t control what others do,” added fellow boater Mark Macchioni, “but you’ve got to always be looking out, especially with people in the water.”
The investigation is ongoing. Knight is scheduled to appear in court on September 22.
