Man Charged In Fatal Roxboro Boating Accident

A 33-year-old man has been charged by authorities in connection with a boat collision that resulted in a woman suffering fatal personal injuries on the Mayo Reservoir in Roxboro on the evening of May 30.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission officials say that Robert Franklin Gentry drove a ski boat into the back of a pontoon boat, resulting in the death of Tammy Duke, the wife of the pontoon boat’s owner.

The ski boat went through the pontoon and hit Duke, knocking her into the water shortly before 10 p.m.

Duke received transport to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Investigators say they don’t know if the cause of death was the impact or drowning. Her body was sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Sgt. Bill Taylor said that Gentry left the scene, but turned himself in around four hours later. He submitted to an alcohol test, but authorities did not release the results.

Gentry was charged with boating while impaired, careless and reckless boat operation resulting in the death of a person, and failure to render assistance and submit identification at a boat accident. More charges are possible.