Ontario ski-boat driver charged after fatal Bartlett Lake crash

A southern Ontario man faces charges after two people were killed when police say they were struck by a boat on a northern Ontario lake.

Provincial police say 58-year-old Bozena Mercik and her husband Zdzislaw, 80, were in a pedal boat June 30 on Bartlett Lake, in Ryerson township, when they were struck by a ski boat.

Bozena was rescued from the water, but died en route to hospital. The body of her husband was found in the lake two days later. Both were residents of McMurrich/Monteith Township.

A 46-year-old Oro-Medonte Township man was arrested Tuesday and charged in their deaths.

Andrew Reid is charged with two counts each of causing death by criminal negligence, dangerous operation of a vessel causing death, and also with careless operation and operate a pleasure craft without prescribed competency under the Canada Shipping Act.

Reid is due in a Sundridge court Aug. 14.