just before 10:00 at night on July 9th
2022 officers from the Oshkosh Police
Department and Winnebago County
Sheriff's Office responded to the scene
of a mass casualty event involving a
ferry boat crash on Fox River in
Wisconsin upon arrival officers quickly
learned that the boat that caused the
crash ran from the scene so there's
still another boat they're looking is
that is it well they better find it
through investigative work officers work
quickly to identify and hopefully
capture the operator of the Striking
boat they go toward the boat that was
supposedly struck a large vessel called
on the loose Cruise known for hosting
large groups and events on the water
typically for a night out
drinking where is the injured
onebody I got boat glass in my head I
don't see any blood or anything no no
blood we're the fire department coming
okay let you know we have at least five
or six that they're injured right now so
just good information
forance did you see the boat at all I
have pictures had a bunch of motor like
four Motors on the back of it did it
park or go no I no I think it kept going
I thought it parked on the right side
over there I think it was the one that
motor you know there's a ambulance
coming yes y yep we have they get the
boat that hit us we're still looking for
it do you know which way it went they
said they
got where was this at then
we hey did you guys have a Bo pass you
that way yeah there was like three other
posts that follow they tried to get him
to stop here and he just kept telling
everybody to shut up and off that way I
got a
picture fig he's going to pass us okay
and for some reason
he quite I think he finally saw me at
the last minute and swerved off and then
sideswipes it side swipes it I have the
Main Street Bridge tender who called he
said he can help with videos or photos
unknown to officers at the time the
crash was caught on video we will be
going over that footage momentarily my
concern was get this too sh in case it
sinks get my passengers off I had no
clue where he went now they came close
to me and I said hey can you guys come
over here I just want to talk to you no
we're just floating down the river I
don't so please just come talk to me
they said no we're floating and they
went you and that's the last I see him
that's when I saw a big boat four
engines on the back the for the shring
boat had four Motors in the back
Witnesses said that the boat was sinking
there was a boat that was sinking I
don't know if their boat was sinking cuz
I couldn't see it I didn't have time I
wasn't even concerned about them as much
as my passengers right now I think I
kind of got what I need from you if it
sounds like ERS are out with the other
boat too I hope you know right cuz I
hope they're not sunk they got okay
unfortunately this officer was
misinformed the Striking four motorboat
that everyone seems to be looking for is
nowhere to be found just for for
everyone out there we do not have the
Striking vote at this point we do not
have the Striking vot so you see that
description take fall out with it just
some further info they said it had like
four engines on the back so it was a
power boat do we have some officers
check in the area for the B no we don't
we don't know where the other striking
boat went if it's even above water even
it's above water right 41 to 452 just
let you know you have two ambulances
down there right now and just want to
confirm you need one more yep just one
more and then the rest in
stage left her hand is hurt her hands
hurt okay we're going it sounds like
we're going to have more ambulances
coming down you what color it
is I mean you can't miss it it's the
biggest Bo on this apparently it's 39
people we just want to line everybody up
make sure we got 39 people yep you're on
the cruise let's count you out okay do
you want to start counting please so I
can write the rest of this down one two
yeah there's a huge party that left okay
that's fine we have the Manifest count
how many while these officers begin
counting all the passengers they can
find officers on the road come in
contact with a soon to Person of
Interest hey excuse me hey are you guys
walking down that way my dad's over
there is was he on the boat yeah okay I
just want to go see if he's sure just
one second for us guys okay cuz we have
a lot of people down there right now
nobody is like really hurt okay it's
just like a little bumped up a little
bit we'll figure that out for you what's
what's his name Jason lindaman they're
not even that far away was Jason on the
pontoon
boat which boat was he on he was on he's
on the big party boat right yes okay did
you try call him at all answer you told
me got in a boat accident okay there's
just a lot going on so just give us a
minute oh you guys on the boat okay
192021 officers elsewhere spoke to
uninvolved voters for additional
information I didn't see it I just heard
it on from what we saw he didn't have
any na yeah you got no lights on there I
said Jase you got to stay here dude you
got people hurt you're just going to
wreck more cuz I know who you are okay
do you do you know what the uh number on
his boat is I have no idea m is on the
back okay did you see the Collision yes
the bolt came full bar I mean not even
didn't even slow down just hit us full
bar boom detectives for this case did
obtain footage of the crash itself later
on which clearly captures the crash in
the court trial that we will be covering
later GPS data determined the Striking
boat operator was traveling 46 M an hour
or 40 knots when he struck on the lose
cruise in the eventual criminal
complaint surrounding the situation one
witness shared that the Striking boat
initially returned back to the struck
Cruiser after approximately 15es minutes
occupants of the cruiser heard people
yell at the speedboat you hit me you
need to stop you need to come over here
Witnesses allegedly heard a slurred
voice respond back from the Striking
boat I didn't see you and shut up we
need to run to the marina and drop
someone off the complaint details that
one of the speedboats own passengers was
heavily injured and bleeding from their
head as a result after the operator
dropped them and other passengers off
the bleeding victim walked approximately
15 minutes to their car then drove to
the emergency room where they were
treated for a bruised back bruised ribs
and a gash above their eye the complaint
goes on to support this witness's claim
that after the Striking boat dropped off
most of their passengers they shut their
lights off and fled down Fox River into
the vastness of Lake Winnebago while
other civilian boers pursued them no one
dead that we're aware of uh not that I'm
aware of were you on the boat yes okay 3
three do all these ambulances have
people in them no we're the first we're
the only person that took somebody so
far all right sounds good so the rest
are available count at 34
hi what's your
number you guys are on the boat right
yeah okay we're just missing six
wouldn't that Mak sense there's a group
that left hey are you looking for
somebody yeah okay my girlfriend okay
well we got I know just wait one second
for me okay cuz business we live
together that is my girlfriend's
business that's her bll the big the big
bll yes she's calling me I'm like how do
I get to you okay so everyone's fine
right now no one's like completely badly
injured so um just stay calm we'll try
and get you reunified here in a second
okay there's just a lot of people down
there obviously so we're just trying to
she like I just want you bu me her yeah
AB no you can talk to son no so you can
let me go this way no no you're going to
stay here sir I'm sorry we can't let you
down we have have a lot of people down
there so everybody sorry what's that sir
I can't let you go down there I'm not
going down I just want I don't know
where my girlfriend is everyone's fine
FaceTime
the okay she supposed to hug she wants
me I know sir but we got to stay up here
for now okay okay sorry I'm not trying
to give you we're going to you know
pretty soon here we'll be able to get
you down there okay I'll guarantee you
probably over stock right now oh my gosh
you got a house over there the cops
right now but he's probably hiding out
there probably are you friends with this
guy yeah I'm friend with guy well we're
acquaint do you have his phone number uh
no yeah and then they we're just
Facebook friends
I do you know any place over there that
he might go like
specifically well if if you don't if
you're just guessing at that point I'm
not going to go with that we're not
we're not sure there was a boat that was
on the
river my dad's boat and they took off
like they hit us two people are really
injured another boat hit the and they
took off so there's one boat that hit
that hit this one there's one boat that
hit the big one and it wasn't my dad
they're not allowing me down there do
you do that how do you do that well yeah
right you are very familiar with that
boat you are sure it is a boat oh yeah
definitely father's Bo 435 to
235 I'm looking at right like that was
my dad's
Bo hold on so your dad's boat struck
this boat no I don't my dad has the four
engine boat where is your dad obviously
no he's not the other is the Striking
boat's not here so where's he at we need
to figure out where he's
at What boat is that you guys that's the
big boat that's the big that's the big
cruise boat I'm actually talking to the
daughter of the father who do you know
where he is no we're trying to find all
I know is I'm trying to find my dad
that's literally it and you guys are ask
me 10,000 your dad's vat isn't down
there I don't know I can't see what's
down there so give me a sec come over
here listen come over
here just just stay over here so your
dad has the 4 engine boat right this
this is a big cruise boat that goes up
and down my dad's boat hit their boat is
what you're saying possibly so your
dad's boat they saying though that
that's what yes the big four engine boat
struck this boat so where is your dad
right now make sure he's okay I don't
know okay what's his phone number so I
can get him a
call
um you're not in any trouble we're just
trying to make sure that like oh this oh
my God I can't Jo what do I do what do I
do while these officers attempt to get
information about the Striking boat
operator from his own daughter Madison
officers speaking to other boter were
able to obtain his phone number from
them the officers with Madison are not
aware officials already have his number
at this point all right I'm going to try
and give him a call here see if he
answers you're not going to mention my
name um if this goes to court though it
will get
mentioned so just letting you know that
I'll be I don't know guy is the criminal
complaint also detailed that as the
Striking boat operator dropped off his
injured passengers they covered their
faces the driver allegedly exclaimed I'm
so I'm so at that time should I call my
dad let me call my dad 45 I'm Park two
but for that welfare check on the
stack you there his phone's off based
off the officer calling Madison's father
Jason she appears to be telling the
truth they each call Jason at nearly the
same moment when the officer calls his
phone it goes straight to voicemail
Jason this is off officer wet with the
ashkash police department we're looking
to speak with you about the uh boat
strike if you give the ashkash police
department non-emergency number a call
and ask to speak with an officer I would
greatly appreciate that all right well
we're going to need your dad's name or
need to figure out what exactly happened
okay give me a second and I'll give you
that I'm not sure if we found the
Striking boat yet but we are out with
the daughter of the she's right there uh
of the guy that's driving the boat not
being cooperative giving us information
though right now talking to this gentlem
and I'm
just hey ma'am ma'am you okay we need to
know I I know you're trying to like
protect your dad right now but we need
know where he's at okay yeah we don't
know okay so I need his name I need his
phone number so I can give him a call
what difference is it going to make if
his phone is off that's what I'm saying
so you have so you have his name okay
wait can you just give me like two
seconds and then I will come back over
well no I need I need to figure this out
now okay okay right now you're not free
to leave you're not free to leave I
don't care no you can leave she can stay
here why am I not free to leave you're
not free to leave stand over by this car
why am I not free to leave because
you're not being cooperative you know
who did this we need to figure this out
so stand over by the
CARiD I just want to give you hug honey
hang in there I love you where are
you you don't need to hover her what's
that you don't need to follow her
[Music]
okay 45 does anybody have the roster of
people who are on the bullet
the captain should have the roster he's
coordinating with the Coast Guard right
now go by Revenue I don't know where he
is and he just said love you talk to
later and hung up on me I don't know
okay so what is what is what is his name
what is his phone number so I can give
this to the county cuz the county is the
one investigating
this oh
my I know who's Trey talking to yes the
daughter of the other Boer that we don't
know
where my so your dad was an accident
with a very big boat that caused
injuries to people so we need to figure
out what happens I understand that hi so
we need to figure out who he is I know
you're trying to protect him but we just
need his information and then as soon as
we get him the information you can get
out of
here what do you need over here just
keep people away approval there's just
so many people down there we're trying
to just I I I'm not I'm I'm not no I get
it I get it stressful too I just I just
want to keep throwing it to different
people cuz I just want she's it
shouldn't
be no I was not on the boat Where's the
boat right I don't know where the boat
is okay how did you know about the trash
because when they I work over there so
when you guys right now yeah okay when
you guys pulled up and so there's a boat
accident I like I don't know I just had
like a gut feeling so then I was right
her dad called her and said that he was
it an accident and then she also
informed me that the dad has a big with
a four Engine with four engines on it
which is what's it's just like I
understand this just maybe maybe he's
not maybe he's not even involved maybe
he's not even involved we just verify
that oh that's okay I'll give you his
name because you're not going to let me
walk away so it's Jason
Lind have you seen the bo yeah from what
I could see is like the backside one of
the pontoons that crashed in but like I
didn't it was still floating obviously
and everything I mean oh my God we dat
it in high school it's same Bol and they
just turned it into a business 7 8 years
ago I just didn't happen to be on it
tonight
yeah it has a 4 engine that's literally
all I know ma'am do you mind if I would
grab your information just saying that I
spoke with you yeah um Madison she's
like his phone's not on like I don't
know where it is I need a cig he's not
being cooperative cuz he knows that
we're out with there
you have cigarettes what's that I could
I could check for you I think I might
have some
actually all right
I'm so I guess are you able to tell if
he's
okay 4 okay was it how many passengers
were on board is like everything I know
I don't know don't we alling okay do we
know if his boat
is cuz we have resources here to help
will not tell us anything okay Hey sir
are you trying to walk down there no I
was on the boat that got hit the owner
of the boat who I know asked me to chase
the boat down the river so that's what I
did and I saw he said you stay right
here you stay right here he let off all
the passengers off the boat and he took
off with all his lights off me a
cigarette please yeah could you just
check check the there might be in the
one glove box no smoke
this is not my
dad all
right what's that boyfriend is she
detained she's just on FaceTime so I
don't think it's going to be
him well you're going to just stay here
for a second cuz I'm not sure if C's
done with you so we just hang tight if
you would like to go get her some
cigarettes or anything you can leave if
you'd like to it's totally up to you can
you ask
park on the Riverwalk there's like 50
people on that boat so it's probably
going to be just a little
bit it's not a Pon do you know the big
one with like the wooden I'm not even
sure what it is but the big one the
cruise one he hit the wheel
B it's like almost like a house boat
actually no don't no no don't quote me
on that one I don't think it's the wheel
one but it's it's a one it's a big one
yes it's a
big I don't know if it's the wheel I
don't know if it's the wheel one the
boat the officer is referring to is in
fact the one with the big wheel as they
put it photos from the crash revealed
after investigation show the shocking
amount of damage Jason caused when he
crashed into the onth the lose cruise
video from the ship also shows the
moment of impact from the passenger
perspective but it's a big like almost
house
Bo no you're talking about the booze
cruise B
yes that's not that's the one he
hit I thought he was one I was like how
did he not see I don't like be sitting
here all night no you won't be there's
nothing really no you won't be I'm just
not sure I'm just need to make sure that
they don't need anything from you it's
not going to tell us where yeah he's not
going to and he knows that we're is he
uh is he been drinking a little bit
probably I don't know I'm asking I
[Music]
leave you're not I told you you're not
free to leave though yeah I believe
you're going to put me on you're being
detained right now yes I'm detained
now is it ringing through or is it just
going to vo ball right away shut off
okay what's your dad say a bird I don't
know they should have it it should be it
should be in you know is his name sounds
familiar but he owns half
this oh when Madison's co-worker says
Jason owns half this town she is likely
referring to the business Jason owns
Sweetwater performance center a full
service Marine Center that works in boat
sales and maintenance services on their
website they list that they cater to all
sorts of boating clients including those
quote who are serious about high
performance and the Need for Speed he
also happens to own the restaurant on
the same property that Madison works at
the Dockside tavern and just to confirm
with you that's that's your father right
okay
disturbance it's going to be at 1629
Arizona Street you try to walk away
right now I will have to detain you
which means you have to go handcuffs
okay I don't want that to happen my God
can't could you do me one more favor
could you at least check this is this
our Squad here our is one further back
check these two squads quick to see if
there's any cigarettes in here although
this officer attempts to fulfill
Madison's request for cigarettes they
have none in their possession Madison
what's Jason's real number that I just
called that number and that's not
jason2 there it
is what time did he call you he never
called me I called him well he had to
tell you that he was in an accident yeah
because I called him Madison I'm Al the
sheriff's offic Lieutenant quick okay
our primary concern is everybody who is
on that boat cuz we want to make sure
that they're okay I don't know who on
how many people fit on the boat probably
like 30 say like 30 so before the boat
crash was he at the restaurant
yeah I don't know that would be a
question for him when you guys pulled up
there people were like oh there was a
boat accident and did I not say I felt
like it was my dad because I just had a
gut feeling and then I came over here
because I thought that was his Bat that
got hit does he have any any other
properties on the lake yeah he own all
he owns would you happen to have a
Snapchat no no and he doesn't have his
location on
Snapchat believe this it's not funny I'm
sorry for it's not funny but it kind of
what the actual it kind of is because my
dad
two right no dude wait 72 72 72 all
right just want to make sure can I leave
yet uh that's going to be up to them for
right now okay I'm trying to think of
anything else
like I lit no people have a lot of say
that was so his phone's ringing right
now is it yes well my tax yeah his phone
went his phone is rnging oh now it is
dad's phone's back on but still hey you
guys can call him give a call I mean
he's not going to answer me for
sure he still live no he does not live
over there anymore he I don't I don't
know his new address because I don't
really go to his house so you have no
idea where your dad lives I don't go to
his house no he was living on but he's
getting divor so he's not living anymore
you have a friend's name or number that
I can call
[Music]
yeah I don't have like I don't have any
of their number numbers just have let's
go with Brian so Brian know where your
dad lives probably yeah I know you are
waiting to leave just hang TI for now
okay I want to Blink I want a cigarette
bro none of these cars have cigarettes
in them it's cold they can sit in the
backseat of the car I'm so good I had to
throw it out I had to throw it out there
see if you has a cigarette or something
so it doesn't sound like you and your D
are close he's been going through this
divorce and then like I got my own stuff
going on and then I'm working here every
day it's like I don't really ever come
out here to like see my dad because I
see him here so I never really find the
reason to go to his house I'm very
surprised about my whole life we voted
like since I was really little he's very
good vot I don't know what the [ __ ]
happened you guys don't have a cigarette
do you she's been asking for a cigarette
she's been she's been praying for one
over here sound like a crackhead pen in
for him but like oh no that would be do
you have a cigarette 42 anyone have a
smoke I need a smoke here
33 God thank the Lord did you clam my
apron is there cigarettes she's bringing
cigarettes well no but my tips are I got
to like close out Oh my Jesus
Christ I'm waiting here for just County
we're just waiting for County to let us
know that we can release you in that car
I told you you can sit in the back of
the car no I already told you not going
to
[Music]
as Madison expresses her fear of missing
out she may not fully realize there are
a total of 50 victims listed in her
father's soon to be established criminal
case all right you guys can head out
thank you guys so much thanks for the
help guys appreciate it I really I
appreciate you guys too like
I'm she's not used toys
call One have a good night have a good
night guys that was have a good night
you guys in the criminal complaint that
was compiled some details of Jason's
actions that night were revealed
apparently Jason kept two passengers on
his boat when he fled into Lake
Winnebago known as victim 25 and 26 the
civilian boats that were pursuing Jason
had apparently lost sight of him or may
have deemed the situation too dangerous
to pursue Sue considering he turned his
lights off likely while speeding away
one of the victims admitted to being
heavily intoxicated that night but that
there was a belief they spent the night
on the lake in the morning when they
woke up the boat was docked at Pioneer
Marina with Jason nowhere to be found
Jason's boat did not have a registered
spot at that Marina causing the owners
to look into it and call the police once
they identified it was Jason's boat
police wouldn't discover the boat until
noon time the following day after the
crash between all occupants aboard both
vessels Jason's case involved 50 total
victims news reports indicate that Jason
didn't turn himself in until 2 to 3 days
after the incident shortly after his
arrest he was released on a $110,000
cash Bond ultimately Jason was tried for
two counts of felony recklessly
endangering safety 12 counts of
misdemeanor causing a boating accident
and failing to render Aid and one count
of misdemeanor negligent operation of a
boat Jason pled not guilty to all counts
triggering a jury trial during the jury
trial Jason's defense team argued that
on the loose Cruise had a certain set of
docking lights on while they were on the
cruise they showed this image arguing
that the boat was difficult to see for
that reason have you ever during that
inspection or ever in the past since got
those he lights been notified that that
was a violation to have on no by anybody
no additionally a witness added that
allegedly extra people snuck onto the
lose Crews putting them over capacity
the defense likely tried to argue this
as a reason why so many people may have
been hurt although there seems to be no
known evidence to support this claim the
defense also noted that Jason had
returned to the lose crws after the
crash but that passengers were allegedly
swearing at him and started throwing
things at his boat they argued that this
was what caused him to take off the
prosecutors attempted to investigate if
Jason was intoxicated or not during the
crash they brought his daughter to the
stand and do you remember your dad
coming into the um yeah I remember him
coming in those little bits that I was
with him he didn't appear in
at all records indicate that officials
from both Winnebago County and the state
of Wisconsin each attempted to charge
Jason with operating a boat while
intoxicated that night one of the
charges was filed well over a year after
the incident ultimately the judge moved
for a dismissal of the charges in both
instances this was despite one witness
on Jason's boat sharing that Jason was
drinking beer while driving footage of
Jason drinking at his restaurant was
also seen But the defense was successful
in arguing no evidence was available to
show what was actually in his drink
claiming that it could have been water
speculative reviews from both The
Dockside tavern and Sweetwater
performance center seemed to believe
Jason was intoxicated that night his own
daughter on scene seemed to attribute
the crash to an intoxicated individual
based on her comments though she doesn't
admit to her dad to being the
intoxicated
person the jury found him guilty on
every count with the exception of one
count of causing an accident and failing
to render Aid the prosecution
recommended he serve 9 months in jail
and spend up to 6 years on probation
where he would be banned from drinking
alcohol he would also have to take a
boating safety class they cited that the
damage caused by Jason put the on the
lose crews out of operating business for
two years due to the damage taken on
their ship before his sentencing
multiple people involved spoke about the
situation I don't think it's fair to say
that he's had no consequences over the
last two plus years because he certainly
has there's been efforts to cancel his
businesses online to boycott him as the
Court's well aware Jason faces multiple
civil lawsuits now two restraining
orders have been granted for threats
that were made against Jason threats
that were made against Jason's family
and Matt on my boat said Somebody's
throwing bottles at us and there was
yelling I had just SP in a shocking
accident immediately my thoughts turned
to
self-preservation my pending divorce and
the impact this would have on
I want to express my deepest remorse to
Mr Los his crew in all on both vessels I
take full responsibility for my actions
and consequences that have followed
there's no excuse for what has happened
and I'm not here to see pity or minimize
my conduct instead I am here to offer my
sincere apologies and to ask for the
courts understanding in Mercy my name is
Jeff R owner and operator of hus cruises
operating one of those cruises was my
retirement plan no matter what he's he's
not going to suffer he still has all his
businesses and all his income I have no
boat no business no income families
could have been destroyed because of
your stupid move to drink and drive a
huge boat unfortunately some voters do
drink and drive I'm not sure if that
happened here certainly it seems highly
likely that it
occurred was drinking something I'm not
sure how much whether he was drunk not
sure because he fled the scene the
maximum penalty for this offense is 28
years and 9 months of incarceration with
a total F of
$160,000 the judge ultimately sentenced
Jason to 3 years of probation which
includes a 5-month prison sentence to
start he was approved for a home jail
sentence via electronic or GPS
monitoring he must also attend 50 hours
of community service for each year of
probation a total of 150 hours he is
also banned from operating a motorboat
during his probation and was ordered to
pay over $7,000 in fines he lost his
rights to own a firearm and also his
right to vote until after his sentencing
his restitution for those who are
injured is yet to be determined though
current proposals call for roughly
$600,000 in payouts the restitution
hearing is set to be held on January
22nd 2025 he is also being civil sued in
a personal injury lawsuit by the company
and the owner of on the lose cruises
amounting to more potential payouts
Jason will have to fulfill as we are
posting this video on the lose cruises
appears to have a GoFundMe donation link
that is still active if you would like
to donate to the victim's business in
this case you can find that link in the
description below you got arrested
before um not arrested I just got
handcuffed and put in with a dog with a
dog yeah I don't want to talk about it
okay so she was telling me she was
telling me she got put in the back of a
squad car with a Kine I doubt it yes in
a cubicle thing the divider what's in
that V you're talking crazy talk I
promise it's nicotine that's just her
dude that's how she is what was the
dog's name what was the dog oh you would
know though I got bit by a dog once I
know that dog's name it was a cop dog I
I got bit by a cop dog before I was in a
tin box and then he was in a there was a
wall here and the dog was on this side
going crazy what time did you wake up
from this dream it
wasn't I swear to you
are I'm going to use that one