Survivor of NH fatal boat crash testifies

LACONIA, N.H. (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - A passenger who survived a fatal boat accident on Lake Winnipesaukee testified Thursday that she was shocked to learn that her blood-alcohol level and that of the speed boat's pilot who is charged in the crash were above the legal limit.

Nicole Shinopulos, who sustained serious injuries in the 2008 crash, testified at the trial of Erica Blizzard , who is accused of being legally drunk and piloting her speeding 37-foot boat into a ledge off Diamond Island.

Stephanie Beaudoin, 34, of Meredith, was killed in the crash that followed a girls' night out and occurred as the three were returning from the lakefront home of Blizzard's father, where they took part in an annual Father's Day prank.

Shinopulos, of Burlington, Mass., testified that the women each had three drinks over a three-hour period at a Wolfboro restaurant on the night of the accident.

Blood tests taken at a hospital after the crash showed Blizzard had a blood-alcohol level of .15 percent, and Shinopulos had one of .108. A blood-alcohol content of .08 or more is considered legally intoxicated for driving in New Hampshire.

"I don't think that's possible," Shinopulos said of the test results. "I wouldn't think three drinks would put it at that. I didn't think we drank a lot. It was a social evening."

Blizzard, now 36, sustained facial cuts in the June 15, 2008, crash and has had numerous reconstructive surgeries. Shinopulos broke her jaw and nose.

Blizzard is charged with two counts of negligent homicide, one for allegedly being intoxicated and the other for failure to keep a proper lookout in the crash. The alcohol-related count carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. She also faces a count of aggravated driving while intoxicated in connection with the injuries sustained by Shinopulos.

Shinopulos testified she remembered few details about the boat ride and the aftermath of the crash. She said she didn't recall alcohol being consumed on the boat trip to Governor's Island, or on the return trip to Sleeper Island, where she has a vacation home.

Shinopulos appeared uncomfortable on the witness stand during her 70 minutes of testimony. She answered County Attorney James Carroll's questions in clipped phrases or with a single word, and said on cross examination she felt "horrible" about having to testify at all.

Shinopulos said she felt confident about Blizzard's ability to pilot the boat and navigate the state's largest lake. She said she recalled driving into rainy weather on the trip home.

She said she didn't remember talking to a Marine Patrol investigator at the hospital after the crash. She took issue with part of a statement prepared by the investigator that made reference Blizzard having a beer earlier in the evening.

"As long as I've known her I've never seen her drink a beer," Shinopulos testified.

Blizzard is expected to testify Friday. The could begin deliberating late Friday or Monday.