KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Family and friends of a 12-year-old boy who was killed by a man who was boating and drinking in July 2023 said they would display signs at marinas and boat ramps across East Tennessee, starting Memorial Day weekend.
Those signs would urge people not to drink while out on the water.
Conner Catlett died after he was hit by a boat while on Norris Lake. His father, Chris Catlett, previously said his entire family enjoyed spending time on the water together and regularly went to the lake for around a decade. During an outing in July 2023, he said Conner was hit by a boater while he was tubing.
Witnesses told him they tried to flag the boater to slow down or stop before the crash. The boater, later identified as 61-year-old Norman Joe Sturgill from Kentucky, turned himself in and was charged with vehicular homicide due to being intoxicated as well as 12 counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
In Tennessee, boating under the influence is considered a Class-A misdemeanor on the first offense, and people sentenced for BUIs can face up to a year in prison and a $1,500 fine. Boaters with BACs higher than 0.2% will also need to spend at least a week in prison.
In Tennessee, the punishment grows more severe for every subsequent violation. If a person is also caught boating and drinking with a child on board, they would be required to serve 30 days in prison and pay an additional fine of $1,000. Boaters may also face a felony charge if a child is hurt while boating under the influence.
Conner's family and friends said they intend to put signs on ramps and marinas along Norris Lake, Douglas Lake, Cherokee Lake, Fort Loudoun Lake, Tellico Lake, Watts Bar Lake and Melton Hill Lake. On social media, they estimated having to visit around 60 marinas and more than 100 boat ramps.