A man was arrested Wednesday on charges of homicide by vessel in the August boating death of a Savannah woman on the Ogeechee River.
An indictment alleges Joseph Andy Webb, 33, was under the influence of meth, pills and alcohol while operating the boat 25-year-old Shana Crozier was in when she suffered a fatal head injury Aug. 18.
Webb had been indicted in March by the Bryan County grand jury on several charges, including homicide by vessel in the first degree, making a false statement, operating a watercraft under the influence and reckless operation of a vessel. He was arrested Wednesday by the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office.
The indictment alleges Webb had taken methamphetamine, Diazepam, Alprazolam and Phentermine to the extent that it less safe for him to operate the 1998 Gruman boat on the Ogeechee River that day. Additionally, it’s alleged Webb operated the boat while under the influence of alcohol.
Webb is also operated the boat at a high rate of speed while passing under a bridge with a low clearance, which is illegal, according to the indictment.
In August, investigators said they believed Crozier was sitting on a platform of the boat’s bow when she stood up as the vessel approached the first of two train trestles crossing the river about 1.5 miles downstream from Kings Ferry Boat Ramp Park.
At the time, Department of Natural Resources Cpl. Phillip Scott said law enforcement rangers were having difficulty establishing who was operating the vessel at the time of the accident.
In the indictment, Webb is charged with making a false statement — a felony — for telling Scott he was not operating the boat when Crozier was fatally injured.
A court date for Webb has not yet been assigned, said Bryan County clerk of court Becky Crowe, and it wasn’t clear if he had an attorney.
He remained in jail Thursday.