2 killed, others hurt in boat crash near south end of Harsens Island

Speedboat hits cabin cruiser

CLAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Authorities say alcohol appears to have been a factor in a crash near the south end of Harsens Island that killed two people and injured several others.

St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said Robert Koontz, of Chesterfield Township, and Nancy Axford, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, died Sunday evening when the cabin cruiser they were in was hit by a 25-foot speedboat.

The speedboat rode up on top of the cabin cruiser, also hurting four other people that were with Koontz and Axford. Local 4 has learned that one of the other victims is Koontz's wife, Marlene. She is in critical condition.

The driver of the speedboat, a 32-year-old Chesterfield Township man, was arrested and is expected to face alcohol-related charges, Donnellon said.

Two other people on the speedboat were not hurt.

The crash happened about two miles south of the San Souci Bar.

Donnellon said crash reconstructionists are working to determine how fast each boat was going before the crash.