EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT, 24, KILLED IN BOSTON BOAT CRASH AS DRIVER FACES MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

BOSTON — A 24-year-old college graduate and standout soccer player was killed after a boat allegedly being operated by an intoxicated man crashed into a pier near Boston Logan International Airport.

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Dankert, a Union College graduate, died in the May 13 crash. Two of her friends were also injured.

Prosecutors now say the man allegedly at the helm, 40-year-old Lawrence Shieh, had been drinking at several bars before taking the vessel without authorization and heading onto Boston Harbor.

PROSECORS SAY BOAT WAS TRAVELING 36 MPH

According to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Shieh’s blood-alcohol concentration following the crash was reportedly 0.20%, more than twice Massachusetts’ legal limit of 0.08%.

Prosecutors also allege that the boat was traveling at approximately 36 mph when it struck the pier.

The location was particularly sensitive because the pier was near Logan International Airport, and authorities say the vessel entered an area where boats were prohibited.

VIDEO CAPTURED THE MOMENTS BEFORE IMPACT

One of the most significant pieces of evidence reportedly comes from cellphone footage recorded aboard the boat.

Prosecutors say that approximately six seconds before the collision, Shieh was captured with both hands off the steering wheel.

Hayden alleged that Shieh had been drinking throughout the night and was not concentrating on operating the vessel when the crash occurred.

The allegations will ultimately be tested in court, and Shieh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

THE BOAT WAS ALLEGEDLY TAKEN WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION

The vessel belonged to Freedom Boat Club, which said it was taken without authorization and operated outside the club’s knowledge and control after the business had closed for the day.

Investigators are continuing to examine how the group obtained access to the boat and what happened during the hours leading up to the collision.

LIZZIE WAS REMEMBERED AS AN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETE

Dankert graduated from Union College in 2024, where she played soccer and made a lasting impression on her teammates and classmates.

After graduation, she began working for a Boston software company as a Federal Aerospace and Defense Representative.

Union College spokesman Phillip Wajda described her as an exceptional student-athlete whose death was a profound loss to the college community.

SERIOUS CHARGES FOLLOW THE CRASH

Shieh has been indicted on multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, operating a boat while intoxicated causing death, unauthorized use of a boat and an airport security violation.

Prosecutors are expected to rely on the alleged blood-alcohol level, the boat’s speed, video footage and the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized voyage as they build their case.

But the charges remain allegations unless and until they are proven in court.

A PROMISING LIFE CUT SHORT

Lizzie Dankert had recently completed college and begun building her professional career when the nighttime boat trip ended in tragedy.

Now, as the criminal case moves forward, prosecutors are focusing on what happened aboard the vessel in the final moments before the collision.

A promising 24-year-old life was lost — and investigators say the evidence captured that night could play a crucial role in determining how the tragedy unfolded.