4 Killed in Parker AZ ??
09-23-2003 | 06:41 AM
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From: Indiana
From Havasu News:
Boat manufacturer makes first court appearance
Joan M. Travis
PARKER — The man who authorities say is responsible for a boat collision that killed three young Californians made his first appearance in court Monday morning.
Grier Dean Rush, 62, Maywood, Calif., appeared before Judge John Drum in Parker Justice Court and was charged with a Class 5 felony, failure to stop after a watercraft collision that results in death or serious physical injury.
Drum told Rush that, if convicted, he would face a minimum of one year in prison, up to a maximum at 2 1/2 years.
Rush, owner of Rush Performance Boats, was reportedly piloting one of his own vessels Friday evening when it struck a Sanger jet boat being driven by Jonathan Herbert, 21, Laguna Hills, Calif., near Rio Lindo Shores on the Colorado River south of Parker Dam.
Herbert died along with his sister, Jaquel Herbert, 18, also of Laguna Hills, and Ashley Rollins, 18, Mission Viejo, Calif., who were both passengers in the boat. A third passenger, Josh Rogers, 18, was still in critical condition Monday at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix.
At Monday’s hearing, Judge Drum issued an order that prevents Rush from having any contact with the victims’ families. Attorney Michael Sutton, who was present to represent the victims and their families, said that Jonathan and Jaquel Herbert were considering the purchase of a boat from Rush.
Being held on $1 million bond, Rush asked the judge for a bail review because he couldn’t afford to pay the bond. The judge directed him to make the request in writing.
Drum set Rush’s preliminary hearing for Oct. 2.
Rush, accompanied by his attorney, Ron Cordova, surrendered to La Paz County deputies Sunday after local authorities requested assistance from California law enforcement officials in locating the suspect.
When Rush couldn’t be found following the collision, he was initially thought to be one of the victims, said La Paz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Alan Nelson. Later there were reports that Rush had been seen in the area. Nelson said Rush’s attorney Cordova contacted Nelson Saturday night.
A press release from the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office said that all parties involved were attending a V-drive powerboat event at Red Rock Campground.
Red Rock owner Sandy Bush said, “This is a social event not a racing event, as some of the media has portrayed. These are nice people who get together on an annual basis, barbecue and cruise on the river.”
Bush said about 100 people attended.
Parker Tourism Director, Don Rolapp said, “This is such a tragedy ... we’ve such a great and safe summer.”
— Staff writer John Gutekunst contributed to this article.
Boat manufacturer makes first court appearance
Joan M. Travis
PARKER — The man who authorities say is responsible for a boat collision that killed three young Californians made his first appearance in court Monday morning.
Grier Dean Rush, 62, Maywood, Calif., appeared before Judge John Drum in Parker Justice Court and was charged with a Class 5 felony, failure to stop after a watercraft collision that results in death or serious physical injury.
Drum told Rush that, if convicted, he would face a minimum of one year in prison, up to a maximum at 2 1/2 years.
Rush, owner of Rush Performance Boats, was reportedly piloting one of his own vessels Friday evening when it struck a Sanger jet boat being driven by Jonathan Herbert, 21, Laguna Hills, Calif., near Rio Lindo Shores on the Colorado River south of Parker Dam.
Herbert died along with his sister, Jaquel Herbert, 18, also of Laguna Hills, and Ashley Rollins, 18, Mission Viejo, Calif., who were both passengers in the boat. A third passenger, Josh Rogers, 18, was still in critical condition Monday at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix.
At Monday’s hearing, Judge Drum issued an order that prevents Rush from having any contact with the victims’ families. Attorney Michael Sutton, who was present to represent the victims and their families, said that Jonathan and Jaquel Herbert were considering the purchase of a boat from Rush.
Being held on $1 million bond, Rush asked the judge for a bail review because he couldn’t afford to pay the bond. The judge directed him to make the request in writing.
Drum set Rush’s preliminary hearing for Oct. 2.
Rush, accompanied by his attorney, Ron Cordova, surrendered to La Paz County deputies Sunday after local authorities requested assistance from California law enforcement officials in locating the suspect.
When Rush couldn’t be found following the collision, he was initially thought to be one of the victims, said La Paz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Alan Nelson. Later there were reports that Rush had been seen in the area. Nelson said Rush’s attorney Cordova contacted Nelson Saturday night.
A press release from the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office said that all parties involved were attending a V-drive powerboat event at Red Rock Campground.
Red Rock owner Sandy Bush said, “This is a social event not a racing event, as some of the media has portrayed. These are nice people who get together on an annual basis, barbecue and cruise on the river.”
Bush said about 100 people attended.
Parker Tourism Director, Don Rolapp said, “This is such a tragedy ... we’ve such a great and safe summer.”
— Staff writer John Gutekunst contributed to this article.
