'Shark Tank' judge Kevin O'Leary involved in boat collision that left two dead including a mother-of-two in Muskoka
Canadian celebrity businessman and 'Shark Tank' judge Kevin O'Leary was involved in a boat crash this past weekend on Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, that claimed the lives of two, including a mother-of-three.
The horrific crash took place at 11:30 pm on Saturday, August 26, on Lake Joseph, near Emerald Island, when a boat being driven by O'Leary's wife Linda collided with another one that allegedly did not have its navigation lights on, according to the Toronto Sun, and claimed the lives of Suzana Brito, 48, and Gary Poltash, 64.
Poltash, a retired accountant from Florida, was killed instantly in the collision.
Brito, a mother-of-three from Uxbridge, Ontario, was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to "catastrophic head injuries" on Monday, August 26, and was kept breathing and alive so her organs could be harvested.
The accident was kept under wraps until August 27. As the news caught traction, O'Leary released a statement where he seemingly painted himself as a victim and shifted the blame onto Brito and Poltash, accusing them of fleeing the scene.
"Late Saturday night I was a passenger in a boat that had a tragic collision with another craft that had no navigation lights on and then fled the scene of the accident," he wrote. "I am fully cooperating with authorities."
"Out of respect for the families who have lost loved ones and to fully support the ongoing investigation, I feel it is inappropriate to make further comments at this time," he continued. "My thoughts are with all the families affected."
Ontario Provincial Police Const. Joe Scali said they could not confirm the businessman's claims that the other boat fled the scene and had no navigation lights on. "The location of the crash—because it’s on the water—the investigation will take a little longer so we can’t comment any further," he said.
Sources told the Toronto Sun that O'Leary's statement had embellished a lot of the information. They said the other boat was not fleeing, but racing to shore in a bid to seek medical assistance for Brito and Poltash.
Another person who knew people on the other boat similarly slammed O'Leary's statement. "Kevin’s boat was flying with the bow up and probably obscured the view of the front of his boat," they said, adding that O'Leary was "overselling" his side of the story.
Brito's family member claimed that it was O'Leary who fled the scene of the crash and said his boat was later found docked at a nearby resort. The relative also questioned whether the businessman's wife had been administered a breathalyzer test.
A spokesman for O'Leary insisted Linda had passed a drug and alcohol test.
Authorities have not yet filed any charges in connection to the fatal crash.