NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Charges have been filed against an Illinois man following a deadly ATV crash in The Bahamas over the weekend, according to reports.
The Bahamian news outlet Tribune242 said 21-year-old James Darling, a Park Forest resident, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and possession of dangerous drugs.
The charges stem from a deadly incident that allegedly unfolded on Sunday at Arawak Cay, a 100-acre man-made island in Nassau.
Reports indicate that just before 11:30 a.m., along Arawak Cay Road, Darling allegedly caused the death of his passenger, James Palmer, after the UTV that he was operating rolled onto its side, landing on Palmer’s neck.
Following the incident, Darling was also allegedly found to be in possession of nine grams of marijuana, which was reportedly found by officers while he was at the police station following the crash.
A GoFundMe fundraiser started by Darling’s family members indicates that Darling and Palmer had made the stop in Nassau as an excursion while on a Carnival cruise with two other friends, adding that the incident occurred less than 24 hours into a “much-anticipated boys’ getaway.”