CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WALB) - A professional fisherman from Leesburg has been indicted on three counts of manslaughter connected to a deadly boating accident in April.

According to court documents, Flint Davis was operating a boat that crashed into another vessel on Smith Lake in Alabama, killing three people. The three people killed were identified as John Clark, 44, of Cullman, Jeffrey Little, of Brandon, Miss., and Joey Broom, 48, of Altoona. The families of Little and Broom have filed wrongful death lawsuits since the boat crash.

Two other people aboard the boat Davis allegedly hit were injured.

|READ MORE: Angler from Leesburg injured in deadly crash at Alabama fishing tournament|

At the time of the crash, Davis’ boat reportedly was traveling 67 miles an hour. There are no speed limits on Smith Lake, but there are boating safety rules in place regarding awareness of others.

“There are rules of the road when it comes to the water just like there is on the highway,” Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said in a Thursday news conference to announce the indictment. “And we want the public to understand and follow these rules and appreciate the dangers of not doing so.”

Fast boating speeds are common in pro fishing tournaments. Anglers often cover long distances to get to certain fishing spots and also face deadlines to return after fishing.

The family of Flint Davis provided WALB with a statement from Davis’ attorney Tommy Spina:

“An indictment is simply an accusation returned by a grand jury of Cullman County based on the lowest standard of proof in our system of criminal laws - probable cause,” Spina said. “Being indicted does not equate to guilt. It is only the beginning of the process.”

Davis also faces two counts of assault, reckless operation of a vessel, failure to follow boating rules of the road, and boating without a boater safety certification.

Crocker showed an 11-second video that he said showed the moment of impact between the boats. The video has been published in various other articles and on social media. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Chief Matt Brooks of the Marine Patrol Division said the video shows Davis’ boat crashing into a stationary boat with five people aboard who were a part of a guided fishing tour.

“Alcohol was not a factor,” Brooks said. “The weather was clear, with good visibility. The wind was light, water conditions were calm, it was full daylight. The lake was not congested. Weather was not a factor. Other vessel traffic was not a factor. Weather conditions or other environmental conditions were not factors. Excessive speed was not a factor. The collision did not happen as a result of the tournament’s blastoff procedures at the start of the tournament.”

Brooks then asked, “What then contributed to this collision, resulting in the loss of three lives?” He then gave his answer to the question. “Operator inattention. Distraction. Not paying attention.”

Spina addressed that in the statement provided to WALB. “The fact that a collision on the waters occurred surrounding this accident [is] not in dispute,” Spina said. “The sole issue in this case is Mr. Davis’ state of mind and the circumstances under which this wreck occurred.”

The statement said Davis was not under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or any other substance. “He was not using his phone, nor was he distracted in any way,” Spina said. “He simply did not see the other boat until the moment of impact.”

Crocker said Flint Davis was taken into custody Wednesday night, with a bond set at $115,000, and has since posted bail.

The 18-member grand jury issued several safety recommendations for future fishing tournaments in Alabama, including:

1. Requiring all participants to show proof of boating safety certification and boating licenses
2. Providing mandatory safety education for all participants
3. Facilitators of Alabama fishing tournaments promote safety to participants and the general public during tournaments.

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