Trial date set for woman accused in fatal Current River boating accident

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman will stand trial in the spring of 2012 in connection with a boating accident on Current River that left two people dead and three others injured.

Presiding Circuit Judge David Evans set Radeena Proffer's jury trial for April 30 through May 2, according to Carter County Circuit Clerk Cathy Duncan Terry. Proffer's previous trial date had been in August.

The 29-year-old is charged with two felonies of involuntary manslaughter with a vessel, three felonies of second-degree assault with a vessel and the felony of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

The charges stem from a two-boat collision, which occurred at about 3:30 p.m. July 5, 2009, near Worley's Rock, located a couple of miles upstream from Doniphan, Mo., that left Josh M. Burson, 25, and Jerry T. Mote, 11, both of Poplar Bluff, dead.

Proffer was operating a 2005 Blazer utility boat downstream, while at the same time, Chad Mikel, 26, of Poplar Bluff was operating a 2003 Blazer utility boat upstream.

According to earlier reports, there was a bend in the river and the boat operators attempted to avoid each other, but still collided. Proffer's boat reportedly struck the Mikel boat port side.

Burson, who was a passenger in Mikel's boat, was ejected and was found in the water at the crash site. He died of massive internal chest and abdominal trauma.

Jerry, who was thrown from Proffer's boat, was found at about 12:20 p.m. July 6, 2009, about one and one-half miles downstream from Worley's Rock. His cause of death was drowning.

Jerry's mother, Michelle Lafferty, 32, of Poplar Bluff, was seriously injured in the collision, while her husband, Bradley Lafferty, suffered minor injuries, as did Michael Preslar, 35.

While speaking with Proffer at the scene, a Missouri State Water Patrol officer reportedly noted a "strong odor of intoxicants being omitted from her person (breath)" and noticed her eyes were glassy and pupils dilated.

Proffer reportedly submitted to a series of field-sobriety tests, including a preliminary breath test, which indicated she was in an "intoxicated condition."

Proffer subsequently was taken to the Doniphan Police Department, where she reportedly registered a blood alcohol content of .123 percent on a breath test.

The state, represented by the Missouri Attorney General's Office, filed a second amended information with the court in June.

Proffer previously had been accused of causing the deaths and/or injury while operating a vessel with criminal negligence in that she "operated the vessel at a speed which was too fast for prevailing conditions."

The amended information changes the wording to: While operating a vessel with criminal negligence in that she "operated the vessel while failing to keep a careful lookout and failing to pass on the left side of another vessel."

Proffer originally was supposed to stand trial in June 2010; however, it ended when Evans declared a mistrial after it was determined not enough jurors remained after questioning by the state and defense to select a jury of 12 and alternate(s) for the trial.

Pertinent address:

Van Buren, MO

Doniphan, MO