THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A man accused of driving a speed boat over a kayak moments after a father and son jumped out of the way in August pleaded not guilty on Tuesday morning.
David J. Seymour, 20, was charged with reckless boating on Tuesday. He appeared virtually for his arraignment.
There will be another hearing Monday to determine if Seymour is required to surrender any firearms.
Phillip Hill and his son, Anthony, were riding from Carlyon Beach to Hope Island on Aug. 3 when they noticed a boat speeding at them.
They tried waving their paddles and yelling at the driver, then jumped in the water to avoid getting hit. Seymour was allegedly driving the boat and left the scene.
The men escaped injury but told KING 5 they were lucky they survived and were not injured.
“I hit the water and said, ‘There’s no way that just happened,’ then I turned and I was screaming,” Anthony Hill said.
They told police the boater did not slow down or return to the scene after the collision "despite their calling and obvious signs of distress," according to court documents.
Seymour’s jury trial is set to begin Nov. 18.