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Tuesday, April 4, 2023
By Michael Nichols
Categories: Michael J. Nichols
(Hillsdale, MI) - A criminal charge of negligent homicide in the operation of a boat has been dismissed by a Hillsdale judge. The charge arose from a tragic boating accident at Camp Michindoh in Hillsdale County on July 27, 2022 in which 11-year old Lucia Salazar was tragically killed when the propeller of a boat operated by Matthew Kovacic (Ko-VA-sik) struck her. He was charged with a “high-court” misdemeanor in Hillsdale County and was represented by Chris Wickman, Aaron Martinez and Mike Nichols of the Nichols Law Firm in East Lansing.
“We grieve for the family of young Ms. Salazar and find this to be an unspeakable tragedy, but it is exactly the definition of an accident,” says attorney Mike Nichols. He adds that “the evidence showed that Mr. Kovacic and a spotter were operating a small boat which towed an inflatable ‘banana boat,’ in which several campers were riding. Everyone was wearing helmets and life vests as recommended and there was no evidence that Matt was driving the boat in a careless manner or at a speed that was too fast – he simply could not see Lucia when she slid off the boat, along with 3 other campers. He was the first person to jump into action to attempt to render aid to the young woman, and he continues to grieve as well.”
The key testimony to support Judge Sara Lisznyai’s decision to dismiss the case came from one of the eyewitness accounts. On cross examination during a preliminary hearing at the District Court, the witness testified to attorney Chris Wickman that his vantage point of the accident was distanced and more elevated. The judge said that the evidence was insufficient to say if Mr. Kovacic had a vantage point in which the young girl could have been seen. Attorney Aaron Martinez prepared and filed a motion and brief to dismiss the case, and presented arguments before Judge Lisznyai on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Mr. Kovacic no longer works for Camp Michindoh and moved away from the area, along with his wife while the case was pending. Mr. Kovacic says he is grateful for the outpouring of support from his friends and family while this very difficult ordeal was ongoing.