Frontenac OPP say they understand community frustration as fatal boating collision investigation continues

Constable Robert Martell, Media Relations Officer for the Frontenac County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), says he continues to receive hard questions from the community and media around the lack of information about the investigation into a fatal boating collision on Bobs Lake in May — and he says he welcomes those hard questions and wants them to keep coming.

“The public is starving for information from us here in the OPP,” Martell told Kingstonist candidly on Tuesday, Jul. 30, 2024.

Martell said he recently attended an event in Harrowsmith to answer questions about marine safety, an event which supported the victims of the incident that took the lives of three people and injured five others on May 18, 2024.

“I fielded many questions about the lack of updates,” he recalled of that event.

“Quite simply… there is no big update.”

Martell spoke to Kingstonist in response to inquiries about where police are in the investigation process at this point — approximately two-and-a-half months after the tragic incident. The Frontenac OPP last provided an update on the investigation in early June.

Media outlets including Kingstonist continue to request information on the investigation, Martell said.

“I welcome those inquiries,” he stated, plainly admitting that the public and the media should be asking for answers and demanding transparency.

Nonetheless, the investigation remains ongoing, with detectives “still very much involved,” Martell shared.

“The investigation into the Bobs Lake collision is progressing and continues with the Frontenac Crime Unit and Criminal Investigations Branch of the OPP,” he said.

While no charges have been laid in the investigation to date, Martell explained that under provincial legislation, such as the Liquor Licence and Control Act, and federal legislation, such as the Canadian Shipping Act, charges can be laid up to six months from the date of the incident. Additionally, criminal charges have a defined statute of limitations, and the Criminal Code of Canada “provides many years of eligibility” for charges to be laid, he said.

As for what the investigation is looking into, Martell said the following factors are being considered:

• Speed
• Impairment by alcohol or drugs
• Safety equipment
• Weather
• Operator requirements
• Time of day
• Darkness
• Underwater hazards
• Navigation tools
• Operators’ abilities

“These determinations will not be released unless charges are laid, as they [would] form the basis for the case before the courts,” Martell explained.

Martell said he understands the frustrations those in the community have, and he is committed to providing updates and details as soon he possibly can.

“So far, a ‘there is no update’ response from the OPP is not newsworthy and doesn’t get printed, which leaves people hanging and frustrated. I would welcome that comment,” he said, explaining that he has “rightfully faced some tough questions” — including allegations — from members of the public.

Martell concluded that he intends to get any information on the investigation and relevant charges out to the pu