Morgan Smith, 21, had been drinking alcohol prior to the collision, which took place at Poole Harbour during the early hours of 2 May, 2022. The rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB), named ‘Fargo’, was travelling at up to three times the speed limit when it struck a large metal navigation buoy, and Smith, who was 19 at the time of the incident, was also using his mobile phone to assist with the boat’s navigation. Passengers David Haw, 24, and another man were thrown overboard following the forceful impact. The other passenger managed to reboard the boat, but Mr Haw could not be located and there was no radio onboard the RIB to contact the emergency services. The RIB would not restart following the collision and the two men were forced to paddle back to shore before seeking help. Despite an extensive search operation, Mr Haw could not be found on that night or in the following days. His body was eventually recovered in the water at Poole Harbour on 14 May. The prosecution followed an investigation by Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and other specialist units within Dorset Police. Smith, who was not qualified or trained to conduct such a navigation at night, even at safe speed, pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter at Bournemouth Crown Court on 20 July, 2023. Today, he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Winchester Crown Court.
