A Hudson Valley man is accused of recklessly crashing his boat, injuring another boat’s passengers and fleeing the accident scene after his boat sank.

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office arrested 27-year-old Michael D. LaBagh of Circleville in connection with a boat crash that occurred at the Swinging Bridge Reservoir on July 2.

LaBagh was allegedly driving a speed boat that collided with a pontoon boat near the Starlight Marina. LaBagh's speed boat sank.

He and a passenger were rescued by the people on-board the pontoon boat. When the pontoon boat reached shore, LaBagh and his passenger fled to the woods, police say.

It took some time before authorities could link the boat to LaBagh, because the ownership changed several times without proper paperwork, officials say.

LaBagh was charged with reckless operation of a vessel, two-counts of leaving the scene of an accident and failure to notify of a petroleum spill, all misdemeanors. He was also charged under the state navigation law with the violations of unregistered vessel and no navigation lights. More charges are possible, police say.

The occupants of the pontoon boat suffered undisclosed injuries.

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