COLLIER COUNTY
A jury is deliberating the fate of a man on trial, accused of leaving the scene of a boat crash that killed 57-year-old Onofrio Sozio neat Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and north of Vanderbilt Beach in North Naples.
James Allen, 78, is accused of leaving the scene. Investigators believe Allen and his brother, John, knew they hit someone or something but instead steered the boat away.
Allen’s lawyers say he did everything he could to save the victim, but the state argued Allen sped away and never called 911.
Both sides showed a video from the Ritz-Carlton showing the crash.
Then Allen took the stand in his own defense. He told the jury he saw a swimmer in the water, and he first threw a floatation device to him. Then he tried to hand him a life jacket.
“It was one that strapped around you, and I handed it to him from the front edge of the boat. And he said to me, I cannot put it on, and I took it back and put it back,” said Allen.
“Not asking you to decide if he is a bad person, not asking you to decide if he is a good person, not asking you to decide his character. I’m asking you to decide his actions. What did he do, hold him accountable, whether he knew what the law was, and he’s an experienced voter… he knew he shouldn’t have been going like that there,” said Prosecutor Mara Marzano.
When asked if he could have lifted the victim on his boat, Allen said no. When asked if he did all he could to save Sozio, Allen said yes.
We’ll soon know if the jury believes Allen is guilty or not guilty of homicide by vessel.
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Trial begins for man accused of fleeing from deadly boat crash in Collier County
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