Surfside Beach Man Charged in Deadly Boating Accident After Pleading Guilty

A Surfside Beach man who was charged in a deadly boating incident in April of last year pleaded guilty last Wednesday. 28 year old John Ray pleaded guilty to reckless homicide by operation of boat according to 15th circuit solicitor Jimmy Richardson. The charges came after police say four people were taken to the hospital after a boat hit the ramp section of a floating dock on the Intracoastal Waterway at Watergate Drive in Myrtle Beach on April 11th. Ray was operating the boat at the time according to SCDNR. Agents responded to the crash and determined Ray was under the influence of alcohol and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.14 which is almost twice the legal limit. 28 year old Corey Parag of Myrtle Beach died due to injuries sustained in the crash. Ray was sentenced to seven years suspended to three years in prison and five years probation upon release.