OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – A Winnebago County man charged in connection to crashing a powerboat into a cruiser on the Fox River back in July 2022 was in court on Thursday for his preliminary hearing.
52-year-old Jason Lindemann pleaded not guilty to the 21 charges against him at the Winnebago County Courthouse, making him bound over for trial. Local 5 News confirmed the plea deal with officials at the courthouse.
On July 9, 2022, Lindemann was allegedly driving his powerboat on the Fox River when it collided with a paddlewheel cruiser boat just before 10:00 p.m. The ‘On the Loos’ cruise boat was reportedly carrying 44 people.
Lindemann is accused of not stopping to render aid, despite pleas from passengers on the paddleboat and other witnesses.
After fleeing the scene, Lindemann reportedly dropped injured passengers from his boat and then drove onto Lake Winnebago, where he and the boat stayed there until the next morning.
Authorities reportedly found Linedmann’s boat abandoned at a nearby marina the next day, and multiple witnesses told law enforcement they saw Lindemann drinking alcohol in the hours before the crash.
GPS data from his boat shows that after leaving Dockside Tavern, the boat went under the Oregon Street Bridge and then accelerated ‘rapidly’. The boat reached a top speed of 46 mph and veered to the right just before crashing into the paddleboat.
Lindemann is charged with the following:
- Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety
- Felony G
- Up to ten years in prison
- Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety
- Felony G
- Up to ten years in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Boating Accident Involving Injury – Fail to Render Aid
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to nine months in prison
- Negligent Operation of Boat
- Misdemeanor U
- Up to six months in prison
Jason Lindemann is expected to be back at the Winnebago County Courthouse on March 13, 2023, for another hearing.
Local 5 News will continue to monitor this case as it progresses.