HURRICANE, UT — A Nevada man is facing two counts of second-degree felony automobile homicide after two women disappeared in the waters of Sand Hollow Reservoir during a jet ski outing Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators say Antonio Omari Lewis, 23, was operating the personal watercraft with the two women and a dog aboard when a cross-wave hit the jet ski and sent everyone into the water. Witnesses were able to pull Lewis out and get him safely to shore, but the women were not found right away.
Search crews worked through the evening with sonar, aircraft and dive teams before shifting from rescue to recovery. The dog was later found on shore and taken in by bystanders.
Witnesses described a sudden wave and a fast turn before the jet ski overturned
According to investigators, the group had been riding on the reservoir when the watercraft was struck by a cross-wave. Officials say Lewis then tried to speed up and make a sharp turn, and that is when the wave hit the side of the jet ski.
Lewis told officers he tried to keep hold of one of the women for as long as he could before letting go so he could stay above the water himself. Witnesses also reported that Lewis said the women had urged him to go faster before the crash.
Authorities have not said that any other boats were involved. The focus of the case has remained on what happened in the seconds before the three people entered the water.
Search teams used sonar, aircraft and divers before suspending the operation
Emergency crews responded quickly after the incident and launched a wide search of the reservoir. Teams used sonar, aerial support and dive crews as daylight faded, trying to locate the two women after the jet ski accident.
The search continued until about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, when officials suspended operations for the night and planned to resume Wednesday morning. By then, the effort had already shifted from rescue to recovery, reflecting the amount of time that had passed without finding the women.
The dog involved in the outing was later located on shore and cared for by people nearby. That detail helped confirm that the animal had made it out of the water, even as the search for the women continued.
Investigators say alcohol may have played a role in the crash
Deputies believe alcohol may have been a factor in the incident. Investigators say Lewis admitted to drinking throughout the day, though he initially would not say how much alcohol he had consumed or what he drank.
He later failed multiple DUI tests, according to investigators, and then admitted to drinking multiple shots of tequila before going out on the water with the two women. Lewis was first held on suspicion of DUI before the case moved into more serious homicide charges.
Authorities have not said how long Lewis had been on the water before the crash or whether the drinking took place immediately before the outing. The investigation appears to be centered on both impairment and boat handling.
One victim was reportedly four months pregnant with twins
Witnesses told investigators that one of the missing women was about four months pregnant with twins. That detail adds another layer of grief to a case that was already being treated as a death investigation by the time the search ended Tuesday night.
Officials did not release additional identifying information about the women in the details provided, and their recoveries were still pending when the search was suspended. The investigation remained active as crews prepared to return to the reservoir the next morning.
Sand Hollow Reservoir is a popular recreation spot, and the case has drawn attention because it began as a routine water outing and quickly turned into a serious emergency. The presence of the dog and the pregnant passenger were both part of the witness accounts gathered at the scene.
Lewis was booked into Washington County Jail on felony and misdemeanor counts
Lewis was eventually booked into Washington County Jail on two counts of second-degree felony automobile homicide. He also faces two misdemeanor citations tied to wake-less speed and a proximity violation.
The charges reflect investigators’ view that the jet ski was being operated in a way that created dangerous conditions on the water. Officials have not said whether additional charges are possible as the case develops.
For now, the focus remains on the missing women, the events that led to the crash and the evidence gathered by responders and investigators at the reservoir. The case is being handled in Washington County, where the incident unfolded Tuesday afternoon.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
