Tacoma man charged with watercraft homicide, assault in boat collision

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Prosecutors charged a Tacoma man Tuesday with watercraft homicide and watercraft assault after a two-boat weekend collision critically injured two people and left an Oregon man missing and presumed dead.

The News Tribune reports (http://is.gd/GoDOR0 ) that 44-year-old Joshua Puckett pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday.

His bail was set at $75,000 after his lawyer said he is caring for his terminally ill mother.

Police arrested him after the Saturday night crash in Commencement Bay. Puckett and three passengers were riding in his 22-foot boat.

Charging papers say Vicki and Robert Brown of Graham were motoring back to shore in their 17-foot aluminum boat when the two craft collided. The impact threw Puckett and his passengers into the water. He and two of them were rescued. Police say 47-year-old Douglas Foster of Portland is presumed dead.

The Browns both suffered serious injuries.

Authorities say alcohol contributed to the crash.