Lawrence Shieh, 41, faces six charges related to a May 13 boat crash in Boston Harbor that resulted in the death of Elizabeth Dankert, 24. Prosecutors allege Shieh, while heavily intoxicated, took his hands off the steering wheel of a boat to dance with passengers seconds before it struck a pier. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, including involuntary manslaughter and operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, in Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday.
According to prosecutors, Shieh had a blood alcohol level of 0.2, more than twice the legal limit, about an hour after the collision. Video evidence from passengers reportedly shows Shieh's "inattentiveness at the helm" in the moments leading up to the crash. Data from the vessel indicated it was traveling at approximately 36 mph shortly after 11 p.m. as it approached a pier at Logan International Airport, where the crash occurred at 11:10 p.m. The impact ejected all four individuals on board.
Dankert sustained a fracture to the back of her skull and was pronounced dead at the hospital the following morning. Shieh and the other two women on board also suffered serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Prosecutors stated that Shieh, a member of the Freedom Boat Club, had taken a club vessel without authorization. The club reportedly prohibits boat use after dark due to a lack of exterior lighting.
Shieh allegedly consumed approximately seven drinks at one bar between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. before going to a second establishment. There, he reportedly had a shot of whiskey and an espresso martini before offering Dankert and her two friends a ride on the boat around 10 p.m.
Following his release from the hospital, Shieh surrendered to authorities and has been cooperative, according to his attorney, Nick Pisegna. Shieh was released on a $25,000 bond with conditions prohibiting contact with witnesses and Freedom Boat Club employees, as well as barring him from boating or consuming alcohol while the case is pending. He has surrendered his passport and has not left Massachusetts.
Dankert, a 2024 graduate of Union College in New York, was a student-athlete and soccer player. Her family expressed a sense of relief that the investigation into the incident is progressing. A spokesperson for Union College described Dankert as an "exceptional student-athlete" whose passing is a significant loss to the campus community.