Police in Ontario trying to recreate scene of fatal boat crash involving Kevin O’Leary

TORONTO (CITYNEWS) –  Police in Ontario are trying to recreate a fatal boat crash in cottage country involving Canadian businessman and former federal Conservative leadership candidate Kevin O’Leary, but windy conditions are hampering their investigation.

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Carolle Dion told CityNews in a phone interview on Friday that the investigation is ongoing and forensic testing on the vessels in Lake Joseph is taking place.

But until the weather cooperates, a key aspect of the probe is on hold.

“There’s different moving parts to it that causes a delay that is not as simple as comparing it to a fatal collision on a highway,” she said.

“It’s all depending on weather conditions and how we are able to do the reconstruction. Right now it’s a windy day and the water is pretty choppy. We are still waiting on the weather to cooperate with us to be able to do that.”

Dion said investigators need “water conditions to be similar to that of the night that it occurred.”

She also couldn’t rule out that alcohol was an element in the crash, saying investigators are “still looking into those factors.”

A 64-year-old Florida man and a 48-year-old woman from Uxbridge died in the two-boat crash near Seguin Township around 11:30 p.m. last Saturday. The Uxbridge woman was taken to hospital with critical injuries and died in hospital on Tuesday.

They have been identified as Gary Poltash, who was visiting a friend at the time of the crash, and Susanne Brito.

O’Leary confirmed he was on one of the boats and said he was fully cooperating with authorities.

“On late Saturday night, I was a passenger in a boat that was involved in a tragic collision with another watercraft that had no navigation lights on and then fled the scene. I am fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation,” he said.

“Out of respect for the victims’ families and to fully support the ongoing investigation I feel it is inappropriate to make further comments at this time. My heartfelt prayers and condolences to the victims, the families and those affected by this loss.”

Insp. Martin Graham says both of the vessels involved were pleasure crafts and the two victims were on the same boat.

They were on a 13-person boat that was out for an evening cruise. Graham said the other boat was smaller and the operators were on the way back to their residence.

He added one of the boats was “definitely moving” at the time of the crash, but it has not been determined whether both vessels were in motion when the crash occurred.

So far, no charges have been laid.