Kingston area man facing multiple charges after lengthy OPP investigation into fatal boat collision

Charges have been laid in connection with the fatal boating collision that took place on the Victoria Day weekend on Bobs Lake.

Three people died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision, which took place on the evening of May 18, 2024, according to a release from the Frontenac County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Three further individuals were injured as well.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, as a result of a lengthy investigation, the OPP arrested and charged Matthew Splinter, age 44 of South Frontenac Township. The OPP announced the charges against him the following day at a press conference. Splinter is facing the following charges:

• Three counts of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death
• Three counts of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm
• Three counts of impaired operation of a vehicle causing death
• Three counts of impaired operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm

According to the release, Splinter was held in custody and was scheduled for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Kingston on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, which occurred just before noon. Splinter remains in custody at this time.

On Wednesday morning, Detective Inspector Marty McConnell addressed the assembled media and several concerned members of the public who gathered in front of the Frontenac Detachment of the OPP in Hartington, Ontario.

McConnell said that he "would like to thank" all of those who played a role in this complex investigation.

"I also want to take the opportunity to thank the people of Bobs Lake area. So many local residents and cottages ran to assist the victims after the collision and offered support afterwards. I also want to thank those who came forward to share information and assist our investigators," he continued.

"To the families who lost loved ones, to those who suffered various degrees of injuries, and to everyone else who was impacted by this tragic collision: We hope that today's announcement helps to bring some measure of resolution," McConnell noted. "Throughout this investigation, our victim specialists and other OPP members have endeavoured to ensure that the survivors' families and even witnesses have had the support they needed while charges have been laid."

McConnell then took questions from the media. He was first asked why the investigation had taken five months before an arrest was made.

"Death investigations are very complex," he answered. "They require a great deal of resources. And you can imagine, tragically, three lives were lost that day, and serious injuries [occurred]. And with the resources involved in this, I wanted to ensure that a fulsome and fair investigation was brought forward into the courts."

Members of the public were aware of social media posts made by Splinter that seemed to indicate he was driving dangerously on the small lake before the crash. Asked about those social media posts and what role they may have played in the investigation, McConnell answered only that the OPP were "aware of them." 

"In terms of how they are being used, that is information now before the courts," he said.

According to the detective, there wasn’t any one piece of new information that led to the the arrest yesterday, but each step of the investigation involved pieces for the investigators to follow up on. 

"We felt at this time, this was the appropriate time to go ahead with the arrest,” McConnell said.

Asked to describe parts of the investigation, McConnell confirmed that “one of the resources within our organization is our collision reconstructionists, and they create a reconstruction of the events that happened that day. I can't get into the details of that report because it is specific and evidence that will be brought forward to the courts. But yes, that is part of that investigation. The OPP has a number of resources that we've applied for this investigation. As you can imagine, it's very complex.”

McConnell was unable to provide much information about the series of events on the day of the collision. He could only say that the information on the order of the events "is now before the courts to what extent the evidence or the information provided by the cottagers played in this information," adding, "I would say that, as a case manager and as investigators, we look at all aspects, and everyone who came forward does play a role in this. Those statements are important, but all pieces are important in these investigations. As the case manager and part of the investigative team, it is important that we look at all details of that investigation."

Some challenges involved in the investigation included the remote location, but McConnell said that the OPP "have a number of resources that we do use, including our marine unit, reconstructionists, and technical collision investigators. All of those attended, and we used all the necessary resources to conduct a thorough investigation." 

The OPP, he said, are not anticipating more information from the public, who have already been very helpful with the investigation. 

"But we are always alive to the possibilities. And that is why I encourage everyone who may have the information to please come forward and share that. It's important to our investigation and also to support those families that have experienced this tragedy," McConnell stated.

In 2019, Linda O'Leary, the wife of Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary, was involved in a boat crash on Lake Joseph, north of Toronto, that killed two people and injured three others. That went through the Canada Shipping Act, and McConnell was asked if the Criminal Code was the only avenue for police to pursue charges in this case.

“With the severity of this investigation and this tragedy, three lives were lost, and others were seriously hurt, I felt that it met the criteria of a Criminal Code offence to be laid in this case."

McConnell also said he couldn't comment on what substances were involved in laying the impaired operation charges: “When we looked at this case, we laid the appropriate charges of dangerous conveyance operation and the impaired charges. We felt that that was the appropriate charge. We do that in consultation with our Crown attorney."

Asked to speak to the community about the impact of waiting five months to lay charges, McConnell said, “I completely sympathize with the families on that. But again, conducting a thorough investigation when it is very complex requires that time to ensure that we have provided the necessary steps to provide a full and fair, thorough case that is now brought before the courts."

Members of the public who did not wish to be identified shared that they were part of the Bobs Lake community and were there on the day of the tragedy.

"I would have liked to have seen manslaughter charges," shared one woman, "but I am glad they know he was impaired. He lied about that."

According to the release, the investigation, which was directed by the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch and conducted in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner, involved support from frontline officers, collision reconstructionists, members of multiple OPP Crime Units, the Technical Collision Investigation Team, and Forensic Identification Services.

The OPP stated that while the charges have been laid, the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who may have information and has not yet spoken with investigators is asked to contact the Frontenac OPP Detachment at 1-800-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.