Charlotte County fatal boating wreck suspect arrested

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A suspect connected to a deadly boating crash was arrested Tuesday.

Dalton Reas, 20, of Wauchula, faces charges related to the unsolved death of 23-year-old Dylan Gonzalez, an official from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said.

Reas turned himself in Tuesday and made his first court appearance Wednesday morning. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was the arresting agency at the time of the wreck, which took place at about 4:38 a.m. on June 19 at the Placida Harbor north of the Boca Grande Causeway Swing Bridge.

A 20-foot Lake and Bay vessel hit a 19-foot Range vessel, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office report. Reas was driving the Lake and Bay, while Gonzalez was a passenger on the Range.

Three people were taken to the hospital after the collision. Gonzalez later succumbed to severe injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

Reas initially fled the scene without calling 911, the sheriff’s office said. In addition, Reas had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, according to a deputy, who said he could smell alcohol on his breath.

His blood-alcohol level came back as 0.12, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. That’s above the legal limit of 0.08.

Reas faces the following charges as listed on a sheriff’s office arrest report:

• Boating under the influence failed to give information
• Vessel homicide failed to give information
• Boating under the influence causing serious bodily injury (two counts)
• Violation of navigation rule resulting in an accident