TACOMA — Prosecutors have charged a Tacoma man with watercraft homicide and watercraft assault after a two-boat weekend collision on Commencement Bay critically injured two people and left an Oregon man missing and presumed dead.
The News Tribune reported that 44-year-old Joshua Puckett pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday.
His bail was set at $75,000 after his lawyer said he is caring for his terminally ill mother.
Police arrested him after the Saturday night crash. Puckett and three passengers were riding in his 22-foot boat.
Charging papers say Vicki and Robert Brown of Graham were motoring back to shore in their 17-foot aluminum boat when the two craft collided. The impact threw Puckett and his passengers into the water. He and two of them were rescued. Police say 47-year-old Douglas Foster of Portland is presumed dead.
The Browns both suffered serious injuries.
Authorities say alcohol contributed to the crash.
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