HILLSDALE COUNTY, MI — A months-long investigation into the death of an 11-year-old girl has resulted in the arrest of a Hillsdale County man, officials said.
A 25-year-old man was arrested last week by agents from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, police said. A marine safety charge – paralysis or negligent homicide, was approved by the Hillsdale County District Attorney’s Office on September 30, according to court records.
The man is scheduled to appear before Hillsdale County District Judge Megan Stiverson on October 18 to be arraigned, records show. He is currently being held in Hillsdale County Jail. MLive generally does not name a suspect until apprehended.
The charge stems from a boating incident that killed an 11-year-old girl July 27 at the Michindoh Conference Center, a Christian camp and conference center on Lake Michindoh in Hillsdale County.
RELATED: 11-year-old girl hit and killed by boat after falling into water
Prior to the accident, a lifeguard – identified as the 25-year-old man – was driving a 1989 Supra Sunsport boat pulling 12 children on a “banana boat”, which is an inflatable tube that people ride on pulled by a speed boat. engine, officials said earlier.
At some point during the ride, several children fell from the tube into the water. Initially, an adult on the boat saw three children in the water, officials said.
When the man returned to pick up the children, the boat struck a fourth child, an 11-year-old girl, who had never been seen in the water before, officials said. The 25-year-old immediately jumped in the water to help the child, officials said.
The girl was brought back to the conference center dock, where rescuers began to treat her, officials said. Medical staff then transported the girl to Hillsdale County Hospital, where she died of her injuries. The victim’s name has never been released.
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