Donald Jessamine, accused of drunkenly causing the fatal 2012 accident, took the stand in his defense.
UPDATE: Defense challenges breath test's validity
Donald Jessamine said he woke up about 7 a.m. on June 23, 2012, took his dog for a run, drank his coffee and prepared to spend the rest of his Saturday on the Delaware River.
Almost 18 hours later, he was taking a breath test in the New Jersey State Police barracks following a deadly boat crash.
On Wednesday morning, almost four years later, Jessamine was behind the witness stand at state Superior Court in Belvidere, testifying against charges that he recklessly caused the accident.
The 65-year-old Phillipsburg resident was allegedly drunk June 23, 2012, when he drove a jet boat into a rock near a bridge in Harmony Township, sending him, 57-year-old Lane Alden and another passenger into the water. Alden's body was found five days later several miles downriver. She died of blunt force trauma.
Jessamine was charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide, but the manslaughter charge was dismissed Tuesday by Judge Bruce Jones due to a lack of evidence.
Jessamine's account
Under questions from his attorney, Michael Priarone, Jessamine, a boater experienced on the river, described his day leading up to the crash. He was helping friends learn to use their new jet boat and the went to Alden's riverside house for a planned picnic, he testified.
The only alcohol came late in the day, though Jessamine said no one was intoxicated. He testified he had a cup and a half of wine before Alden asked for a ride on the new boat.
"We were going upriver," Jessamine said, his voice cracking. "All of a sudden there was something under the water, could have been a rock, could have been a log, it hit us under the boat."
All three were thrown into the water. Jessamine said he saw the others and told them to get to the New Jersey shore while he swam after the still-running boat, which he said turned and crashed into rocks.
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Later, after freeing the boat with help from others, Jessamine was brought to shore where he was questioned by state police and took field sobriety tests. After about four hours, he said he was brought to the barracks.
A breath test determined his blood-alcohol content at about 12:30 a.m. was .09.
Jessamine said he did not feel impaired, and under later questioning said he had a medical condition that could have thrown off the result.
Prosecutor's questioning
"What you want all of us to believe," Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke asked Jessamine, "is that you had a glass and a half of wine ... at 7:15 on June 23 but you nevertheless blew this at 12:26 the following morning?"
Burke peppered Jessamine with questions probing differences between testimony of the defendant and state troopers, and about his actions on the river.
Jessamine said he accelerated to 30 mph after passing beneath the PP&L bridge, when the boat struck the underwater obstruction.
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Burke asked why he didn't acknowledge a sign on the bridge that warned of rapids ahead. Jessamine said the sign referred to the Foul Rift rapids farther upstream: "If you're on the river, you know," he said.
Burke also asked why Jessamine didn't use a cut-off switch equipped on the boat designed to kill the engine if the wearer moves too far from the ignition. Jessamine said he typically affixes such a device to a lifejacket, which he was not wearing.
Burke's questions attempted to draw jurors' attention to Jessamine's role as an instructor that day.
"Obviously they were relying on you with your experience in that regard," he said.
What's next in the trial?
The defense rested after Jessamine's testimony. Discussion that followed in open court suggested the state may recall one of the troopers Tuesday afternoon to refute some of Jessamine's testimony.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.