Man charged in deadly boating accident

CINCINNATI - A Hamilton County grand jury has indicted a man in connection with the death of another man following a June boating accident on the Ohio River in Sedamsville.

Prosecutor Joe Deters on Wednesday announced the indictment of George Riegelsberger, 53, in the death of Jeffrey Foster. Both men were in separate boats when the deadly accident occurred on June 9 near Riverside Park.

Investigators say the boat Riegelsberger was piloting ran over the top of Foster's boat. The bow of Riegelsberger's boat struck Foster, 24, in the head. He was transported to University Hospital where he died two days later. Jennifer Holwadel, a passenger in Foster's boat, suffered a broken back.

Witnesses reported that Riegelsberger was operating his boat at an excessive speed in the harbor area prior to the accident. Investigators say he docked his boat after the accident and fled on foot.

Police found alcohol in Riegelsberger's boat when it was searched after the accident.

“The cowardly act of this defendant to mow over two innocent people is outrageous. To then flee the scene and leave them fighting for their lives is disgusting.”

Riegelsberger is charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of aggravated vehicular assault, one count of vehicular assault, two counts of failure to stop after an accident and one count of operating a vessel in a low speed area.

He faces the possibility of 23 years in prison if convicted of all charges.