This is the true story... of a young professional real estate agent name Jody. Jody had everything going for him, you see. He had a good job, a great salary, a fabulous lakefront condominium in Marion county, Florida, and a new boat. What more could he ask for? It appeared to him that he had everything a man could want.

Well, it was Friday, the beginning of Memorial Day weekend, 1998. It was a cool morning around eight o’clock. Jody was having a fresh cup of coffee on the upper deck of his condo, observing what a beautiful day it was going to be. He thought of a day of boating, swimming, a barbeque cookout, and in general fun in the sun with some of his closest friends and family.

He called Dave first. Dave was up for a day of fun, so he accepted Jody’s invite and said he would call Leann and tell her about it and get a ride over with her, that they would stop at a store for beer, soda’s and snacks, and would be right over. Jody then called Darlene at work to invite her. She said she would be over around four o’clock, after she got off work. Great Jody thought, and proceeded to call his sister Vivian to see if she and her husband Alan wanted to join the party. They had some prior commitments for the morning, but would be over later that afternoon.

At that point, Jody began to prepare for the day by gassing up the boat, and getting all the necessities; beer, soda’s, suntan oil, food, a radio, and other essentials. Shortly after he got back home, Dave and Leann arrived. They loaded their spoils onto the boat and the three of them took off in the boat for a cruise around the lake. They found a good spot to anchor and they swam, tanned, drank a few beers, and enjoyed good company for the morning. During this, Leann borrowed Jody’s cell phone and called her boyfriend Chris to see if he wanted to join the party for the day. Chris said he would be right over as soon as he stopped to pick up his shorts and something to drink. So they pulled anchor and headed back to the beach at the condo. Shortly after they arrived back Chris showed up, along with Vivian and Alan. Since it was around two o’clock, and Darlene would be over soon, they decided to stay at the beach. They laid out in the sun, ate some snacks, and drank some beer and sodas. Jody broke out the water tube so they could all take turns tubing, and riding on the boat. They were having a great time.

Around four o’clock Vivian and Alan had to leave. Everyone was getting sort of hungry so Jody fired up the grill and barbequed some chicken. Around that time Darlene showed up to join the party. They all stayed around the condo to eat, drink, and enjoy a wonderful beginning to the holiday weekend.

The sun was starting to set over the lake and they thought it would be a great idea to take the boat out and watch it, and then go out to “Gator Joes”, a bar on the other side of the lake. Jody figured it was all right, and actually better, because no one had to drive back to the condo; all they had to do was pilot the boat across the lake. No problem and no danger, they weren’t in a car, they were in a boat. They took their time going across the lake so they could talk and enjoy a drink while the sun was setting.

When they arrived at the bar Jody tied up the boat and they went inside and ordered drinks, shot some pool, and shared fellowship with other friends. Around ten o’clock they all loaded up the boat for the quick run back across the lake, because Dave and Chris wanted to go to another bar in town. They sang, and laughed, and genuinely enjoyed the evening as they headed back across the lake.

It was very dark that night but that shouldn’t matter as Jody’s dock and shoreline were well lit. Dave noticed that they went beyond Jody’s place and told him. Jody slowed down and proceeded to make a wide u-turn, to head back to the condo. The next thing he remembered was waking up in the hospital with tubes and wires all over him.

He couldn’t remember the “Life Flight” to the trauma center or the operations he received. He’d had two operations already and would need a few more within the next year. He was a complete mess physically and mentally, as he couldn’t remember anything except little bits of that day.

A couple of days later, Leann visited Jody and found him with his mouth wired shut and a trachea tube to breathe through. He could barely ask her what had happened. She told him about Dave having a broken back and major leg damage, which would require many more operations and rehabilitation. Darlene had major surgery on her head to release the pressure built up on her brain.

You see, they run right into someone’s unlit dock, (small pier) which stuck way out into the lake as they were making a u-turn. No one ever saw the dock!!

Leann paused when Jody asked about Chris, and he could tell by the look on her face that it was fatal. Chris had died in the accident.

Jody was devastated. He was so distraught he actually wished he had been the one to die. The grief was unbearable. How, why did this happen!! His friend Chris dead, and Dave and Darlene critically injured to almost fatal. His own injuries seemed so small. Five lives changed in a blink of an eye, on that Labor Day weekend.

Not long after Jody was released from the hospital, he was charged with one count, B.U.I. Manslaughter, (Boating Under The Influence) Manslaughter, and two counts B.U.I. with bodily injury. These charges carry anywhere from eighteen to thirty one years in the Florida State Prison System. The case in Ocala, Florida was a very lengthy and publicized one, as it was one of the first in Marion County. It was settled on January 9, 2003 with Jody sentenced to five years in prison and him being on a stringent probation for ten years after his release from prison.

Who would have thought going boating and having some drinks would have led to this?

They were in a boat, not a car. There was almost no one else on the lake that night. This is why all of them could party and drink; no one needed to drive. There is no need to even have a license to drive a boat.

The reason I’m writing this story is because I’m Jody, and I’m writing this from the Florida State Prison in Madison, Florida. I want to inform you and all the people I can about this accident to let you see how quick a life can end and how devastated other people’s lives can instantly become from drinking and driving anything. Whether it is a boat, a car, or whatever it is. Alcohol really and truly doesn’t mix with anything or with any situation. If you think about it with an honest heart, you may just find yourself in agreement; especially driving!! I’ve boated most of my adult life, whether it’s going fishing or just going out on the water for the day. The first thing people usually put in their boat is a cooler full of beer or something else to drink. That’s just asking for something bad to happen.

Since this happened I have prayed to God, asking him what to do and how to let people know how dangerous it is to drink and drive a boat. That is how I was led to start this program, B.A.D. boating (Boaters Against Drunk Boating). This program is here to help inform people about the hazards of drinking and boating.

I will probably have these emotions follow me the rest of my life, grief, sorrow, regret, and “Hope”. Hope that my telling you about this tragedy will open your eyes, and the eyes of others, so the same fate will not befall them or you.

-Jody Gerard

Address:
Jody Gerard
U16657/A1113-L
Marion Correctional Work Camp
PO Box 158
Lowell, FL 32663-0158

If you would like to write Jody, please use the above address or use the following web form.
Thank You!