Jojo John receives two years for 2013 boat crash DUI that claimed lives of two close friends

DA’S PRESS RELEASE

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Jojo K. John (DOB 01/04/78) of 37G Gail Drive, Nyack, New York was sentenced to two years in the Rockland County jail on his guilty plea to two counts of vehicular manslaughter in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies, in the deaths of a bride-to-be and her fiancé’s best man.

District Attorney Zugibe said, “The defendant’s reckless decision to drive a speedboat while under the influence of alcohol and drugs tragically caused the untimely deaths of two innocent people. The sentence imposed today is more than justified. He has now been held accountable for his crimes and will serve two years in jail, giving him time to reflect on his thoughtless actions.”

On July 26, 2013, at approximately 10:40 p.m., John was operating a 19-foot Stingray powerboat on the Hudson River, near the Village of Piermont, south of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The defendant crashed the vessel into a construction barge, while traveling at a high rate of speed in near-zero visibility, with the impact throwing Lindsey Stewart of Piermont and Mark Lennon of Pearl River into the river, resulting in their deaths. The investigation also established that John was aware of the location of the barge having maneuvered his vessel past the same barge earlier in the day and discussed its location with his passenger.

John and four others suffered serious injuries in the accident.

The defendant was found to have a blood alcohol level in excess of .15 at the time of the incident. Additionally, cocaine metabolites were found in his system. He was arrested while recovering at Nyack Hospital.

Executive Assistant District Attorney Stephen Moore prosecuted the case.