Driver Of Ski Boat In Deadly Eufaula Crash Has History Of Arrests

The driver of a ski boat involved in a deadly Fourth of July collision on Lake Eufaula is cooperating with investigators and has been interviewed, according to OHP Trooper Betsy Randolph.

A representative for Ryan Shumway first met with investigators Monday.

No charges have been filed, but the family of the man killed at Lake Eufaula says they simply want answers.

"My dad was a wonderful man and he gave his life. He's a hero. He protected my kids. He would do anything for anybody," said Tonia Foster.

7/8/2013 Related Story: Driver Of Boat Involved In Lake Eufaula Fatality Crash Named

Foster's and Tracy Madden's father was Gary McIninch. His body was recovered from Lake Eufaula on Saturday, two days after his boat was hit by another boat.

"They were screaming and yelling and trying to get their attention to stop," Madden said.

Madden and Foster spoke publicly before their father was recovered. They call him a hero for saving the lives of two of his granddaughters.

"Whenever dad heard the boat coming, he just tossed, pushed my girls back as fast as he could and whenever the boat came up, it ended up taking out my dad and lost him in the water," Foster said. "And they said that the boat guy came back around asking if anybody was okay or hurt or anything like that, and then once he heard the police was going to be called he took off."

Ryan Shumway, 30, has been identified by OHP as the driver of the boat that hit McIninch. He has not been arrested or charged.

Court records show he has a series of arrests beginning in 2001 for public intoxication and possessing a beer while being under 21. He pleaded guilty to both of those charges.

In 2004, he was convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer, in 2007, he pleaded guilty to transporting an open container, and in 2010, he was sentenced to a year of probation on a DUI charge.

He also has a number of speeding violations on his record, both in Pittsburg and Latimer counties.

McIninch's family was unavailable to comment Tuesday, but said over the weekend they just want to know what happened and why the boat driver sped away.

"We need closure and we need to know why they did that and how. It's not fair. They were just docked, standing still watching fireworks," Foster said.

OHP says they have Shumway's boat and are looking it over for evidence.

The McIntosh County District Attorney's Office says it is waiting on the finished report from investigators before deciding what charges should be filed.