New York Man Charged With Homicide Following Florida Boat Crash

Authorities have charged 51-year-old Mark Dominic Passero with vessel homicide as a result of a boating crash that killed 83-year-old Robert Strickler several months ago. Vessel homicide occurs when a person kills a human being while operating a vessel in a reckless manner that is likely to cause great bodily harm or death..

Robert M. Strickler

Democratandchronicle.com reports that officials with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission accuse Passero of crashing his boat into the vessel carrying Strickler on February 21 while not paying attention to where he was going.

Passero and his son were reportedly on their way to Little Palm Island in a 2001 59.8-foot Sea Ray when Passero crashed into the 19-foot Aquasport carrying Strickler, killing him and injuring 74-year-old Lee Trescott. The men were fishing shortly before the crash.

Prosecutors allege that Passero had his vessel on autopilot and his radar turned off when the collision occurred. The arrest warrant asserts that “Passero stated he did not know he hit a vessel until he turned around.” 

Passero turned himself in on July 26 and was later released on $150,000 bail.