Jan. 14—A Pittsburg County man was charged this week for the death of an Indianola man following a boating accident on Lake Eufaula in May 2024.
Court records show Micharl B. Reagan, 25, was charged with murder in the second degree.
Reagain is accused of killing Charles Gustafson, 25, of Indianola, “by drinking alcohol and consuming marijuana over the course of an entire day, causing a blood alcohol content of 0.12, then operating a boat in the dark with other passengers, conduct that created what a reasonable person would realize was an immediate and extremely high degree or risk of death to another person.”
A report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the boat accident occurred near the number 9 bridge near Longtown in northeastern Pittsburg County.
The report states a Reagan was operating a 2019 JBC Express 24-foot open boat and was traveling southbound and was going under the Number 9 bridge when it ran aground on the west bank and struck several trees before coming to a rest.
Two passengers were on the boat at the time of the accident with all three people, according to troopers.
According to OHP’s report, Reagan was transported via air ambulance to a Tulsa hospital and a second passenger was transported to McAlester Regional Health Center for their injuries.
Troopers said in their report, Gustafson was pronounced deceased at the scene by Community EMS.
An affidavit filed in the case states during an interview with the passenger transported to MRHC, troopers were told Reagan was the driver of the boat at the time of the collision and was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis.
“Reagan was impaired to the point that, moments before the collision, Reagan had passed out and caused the boat throttle to become near full throttle,” investigators wrote in their report.
The affidavit states Troopers determined during their investigation the vessel was traveling with the motor’s RPMs “near the highest range possible” before the collision.
Blood samples obtained from Reagan showed the man was above the legal limit for alcohol and also contained cannabis, the affidavit states.