A Moore County man and his girlfriend are facing charges after authorities say they were impaired while allegedly operating a boat that struck and killed a 10-year-old girl and critically injured a woman at Harris Lake over the weekend.
Quinten Gregory Kight, 40, of Vass, was said to be operating a Tige wake boat Saturday afternoon when investigators say he circled a group of swimmers while pulling a tube behind the boat. The boat hit Brooklyn Mae Carroll, a fifth grader at West Lake Elementary, killing her instantly. Jennifer Stehle, a school social worker who was also in the water, lost one leg and suffered severe damage to the other.
On Tuesday, authorities arrested Annemarie Flanigan, 56, of Vass, who owns the boat involved in the crash. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, she is charged with aiding and abetting felony death by impaired boating, aiding and abetting felony serious injury by impaired boating, and aiding and abetting driving while impaired with a motor vessel.
Wildlife officers said they found 39 empty beer cans and additional alcohol containers on and around the boat. Kight is charged with operating a motor vessel while impaired and unintentionally causing the death of another person. He is being held on a $500,000 secured bond.
Court records show Kight has a pending hit-and-run charge in Moore County from 2023, when he was accused of striking a motorcyclist with his truck and leaving the scene.
Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson called the crash heartbreaking and preventable, urging boaters to treat impaired operation on the water the same as impaired driving on the road.
A memorial has formed at Harris Lake for Brooklyn Carroll, with candles, flowers and balloons placed near the water. A fundraiser to support Stehle’s medical care has raised more than $13,000 toward a $35,000 goal.
Kight’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 22.
