Man Arrested After River Accident Kills 2

A Santa Ana man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and boating under the influence of alcohol after an accident on the Colorado River in which two Los Angeles County girls were killed, authorities said Monday.

Jeffrey Scott Evans, 33, was piloting his pontoon boat north on the river near Needles at 7:55 p.m. Saturday when the 13-year-old girls going southbound turned their Wave Runner water craft in front of him, causing the vessels to collide, said Det. Rudy Vuittonet of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The speed of Evans’ boat caused it to run over the craft, Vuittonet said.

One of the girls, whose names were not released, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other died at a local hospital.

Vuittonet said Evans had the right of way, and evidence at the scene showed that he “had little room to move to avoid the collision.” But Evans was arrested because he had apparently been drinking, Vuittonet said.

“There was sufficient evidence to arrest him,” Vuittonet said. “The district attorney will make the final decision on what to charge him with or even if charges will be filed.”

Evans, whose boat was impounded as evidence, posted $15,000 bail early Sunday and was released from jail at the Sheriff’s Department Colorado River Station.