Photo: Chatham County Sheriff's Office
A tragic boating accident on Harris Lake in Chatham County, North Carolina, left a 10-year-old girl dead and a woman critically injured on Saturday (August 2). The incident occurred when Quinten Kight, 40, allegedly crashed his boat into a group of swimmers while under the influence of alcohol.
The young victim, Brooklyn Mae Carroll, was a fifth-grader at West Lake Elementary School in Cary. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the crash resulted in the amputation of Jennifer Stehle's leg, a friend of Brooklyn's mother, who was also injured in the accident.
Warrants reveal that Kight faces felony charges for operating a motor vessel while impaired, causing the death of another person. Investigators found dozens of empty beer cans on Kight’s boat, and additional alcohol containers were believed to belong to the boat's passengers.
The community is mourning the loss of Brooklyn, described as "a light in every room" by her family. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Brooklyn's family and help cover expenses during this difficult time.
Chatham County Sheriff Mike Robertson emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy, urging individuals to avoid mixing alcohol with watercraft operation. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is handling the investigation, and Kight was released on a $250,000 bond.
At the time of the crash, he was out on a $15,000 bond for a 2023 hit-and-run.
First responders, including First Health EMS, Moncure Fire Department, and UNC Air Care, were present at the scene. The school community at West Lake Elementary has been informed of the accident, with resources provided to help children cope with the loss.