A cruise ship visitor, 21-year-old James A. Darling, has been arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter following an ATV accident whereas visiting Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. A $40,000 money bail has been set however right now, Darling stays within the Bahamas.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, October 20, 2024. In accordance with a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Darling’s household, James and three buddies departed on a Carnival cruise on October 19 for a “much-anticipated boys’ getaway.”
The following day, whereas the ship was in Nassau, Darling was driving an ATV (although the household’s description calls it a UTV) with a buddy, James Palmer, as a passenger. The car rolled onto its facet and in the end landed on Palmer’s neck, inflicting his demise.
Each ATVs and UTVs are off-road leisure automobiles. The most important variations between them are that ATVs have bike-like seats, whereas UTVs have extra conventional car-like seats. ATVs should not have seat belts, however UTVs do. Each varieties of automobiles are capable of be rented in Nassau.
In accordance with The Tribune, authorities declare that Darling was driving the car in a “harmful method” when the accident occurred. No additional particulars on highway situations, velocity, or different elements have been launched right now.
The incident occurred on Arawak Cay Street shortly after 11 a.m. Arawak Cay is positioned simply 1.5 miles from the cruise terminal.
It’s not clear whether or not or not Darling and his buddies had been on a shore tour bought by means of the cruise line. Many cruise traces, together with Carnival, do supply ATV and UTV tour experiences at completely different locations, however vacationers may also organize such excursions independently.
In Nassau, Carnival Cruise Line doesn’t listing any ATV excursions accessible on its web site, however particular person tour affords can differ on completely different dates.
Whereas Darling’s household does say the boys had been on a Carnival cruise, the precise ship will not be named. On October 20, when the incident occurred, two Carnival ships had been in Nassau – Carnival Dawn and Carnival Conquest.
Learn Additionally: Carnival Cruise Line Will get Severe with Drug Detection Canines
Carnival Dawn departed Miami on October 19 for a 5-night Jap Caribbean crusing visiting Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk. Carnival Conquest, then again, had additionally departed Miami however on October 18 for a 3-night Bahamas itinerary solely visiting Nassau.
Darling’s household could be very clear that the boys had been “lower than 24 hours into their journey” when the accident occurred on October 20, making it probably the boys had been passengers onboard the 102,239-gross-ton Carnival Dawn.
Carnival Cruise Line has not issued any assertion nor commented on the incident or the ensuing authorized case.
Drug Cost Additionally Filed
Along with the vehicular manslaughter cost, Darling was additionally charged with possession of harmful medicine for carrying 9 grams (roughly one-third of an oz) of marijuana.
It ought to be famous that Carnival Cruise Line prohibits all passengers from bringing any marijuana or CBD merchandise onto its ships, and actually, has banned vacationers who try to deliver even medical CBD gummies onboard.
Nonetheless, there isn’t a means the cruise line can have any management over whether or not or not vacationers buy such objects whereas in a port of name. Right now, marijuana legal guidelines within the Bahamas are nonetheless comparatively complicated and are continually evolving, however leisure marijuana stays unlawful.
Darling did plead responsible to the drug possession cost and accepted probation for that cost, however the involuntary manslaughter cost will now transfer to the Supreme Courtroom with a voluntary invoice of indictment (VBI). The following transfer within the case is deliberate for March 20, 2025.
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