DRUNK BOATER WAS ALLEGEDLY DANCING WITH WOMEN JUST SECONDS BEFORE FATAL CRASH THAT KILLED COLLEGE SOCCER PLAYER

BOSTON — New details are shedding light on the final moments before a boat crash that claimed the life of 24-year-old Elizabeth “Lizzie” Dankert, a college soccer player who was enjoying a night out in Boston.

According to prosecutors, the man accused of operating the boat, 40-year-old Lawrence Shieh, had been drinking heavily before taking the vessel onto the water. Investigators say video recovered from the boat shows Shieh dancing with the women aboard and allegedly taking his hands off the wheel just seconds before the crash.

PROSECUTORS SAY SHIEH HAD BEEN DRINKING FOR HOURS

Shieh has been indicted in connection with the May 13 boating crash, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney.

Prosecutors allege that Shieh visited multiple bars in Boston’s Seaport area with friends and consumed approximately seven alcoholic drinks before later going to another bar alone.

There, investigators say, he met Dankert and two of her friends and offered to take them out on a boat.

After accessing a marina using a key associated with his boat club, Shieh allegedly took control of one of the club’s boats despite club rules prohibiting nighttime boating.

The group reportedly left the marina at around 10:30 p.m.

VIDEO CAPTURES THE MOMENTS BEFORE THE CRASH

Investigators later recovered video footage from the boat.

According to the Commonwealth’s statement, the footage allegedly showed Shieh dancing with the women while the boat was underway.

He was also allegedly captured with his hands off the steering wheel only seconds before the collision.

Investigators believe the boat was traveling at approximately 36 mph before it struck the end of a pier near the runway at Boston Logan International Airport.

The impact caused Dankert to suffer fatal blunt-force injuries.

Shieh and the two other women aboard the boat survived with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.

BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS .20, PROSECUTORS SAY

Following the crash, Shieh’s blood alcohol level was reportedly .20, more than twice Massachusetts’ legal limit for operating a boat.

Prosecutors say the evidence shows a combination of alcohol consumption, nighttime boating and allegedly unsafe behavior immediately before the collision.

Shieh has been indicted on several charges, including involuntary manslaughter, operating a boat while intoxicated causing death, two counts of operating a boat while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, using a boat without authority and violating a Logan Airport security zone.

He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

WHO WAS LIZZIE DANKERT?

Dankert was a graduate of Union College in New York, where she studied English and played soccer.

She was also remembered as someone who helped other students, including through peer tutoring.

Her death has left friends and loved ones mourning a young woman whose life was cut short during what was supposed to be an ordinary night out.

SHIEH REMAINS OUT ON BAIL

Shieh’s bail was set at $25,000, with conditions that include a prohibition on boating and consuming alcohol.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 8.

The new allegations have added another troubling layer to the case, particularly the investigators’ account of what was allegedly happening aboard the boat in the seconds immediately before the collision.

A night that began with drinks and a boat ride ended with the loss of a 24-year-old college athlete. Now, prosecutors are relying on video footage, toxicology evidence and witness accounts as they build their case against the man accused of being at the helm.