A Cape Coral man accused of driving his boat drunk, accelerating and hitting a dock, injuring two others, took a plea deal.
Shawn Lynch, 30, on March 16 pleaded no contest to one count of boating under the influence causing serious bodily injury to another. As part of the plea deal, Assistant State Attorney Jonathan Howser dropped charges of drunken boating causing property damage and violating navigation rules causing serious bodily injury.
Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrested him July 11, 2025, for the Jan. 12, 2025, crash.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Lynch was one of three people injured.
The FWC, along with Cape Coral Police, Cape Coral Fire and Lee County EMS, responded to a single-vessel crash. Authorities said an 18-foot vessel struck a dock on Lake Kennedy, in Cape Coral.
An arrest affidavit from the FWC states that with Lynch were three passengers and three dogs.
Court documents say that just before 8 p.m. Jan. 12, 2025, Lynch accelerated to 32 mph before he hit a dock. Authorities said Lynch did not slow down or make any evasive moved before the impact.
Shawn Lynch, 30, of Cape Coral, on March 16 pleaded no contest to one count of boating under the influence causing serious bodily injury to another
One of Lynch’s passengers suffered a large head laceration and a brain bleed, among other injuries, the report states. A relative of Lynch suffered an 8-inch head laceration.
According to the FWC, the residents inside the home where the boat struck the dock dialed 911 and provided aid to the vessel’s four occupants.
As part of the plea deal, Lynch’s boat would be impounded for 10 days. His attorney, Danielle O’Halloran told Lee Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson the vessel was a total loss after the wreck.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral man gets jail in drunken boating crash