'Shark Tank' Star Kevin O'Leary Doesn’t Remember If Wife Linda Was Drinking Before Boat Crash That Left Two Dead
Kevin O’Leary apparently can’t remember whether or not his wife Linda was drinking before the “chaotic” boat crash that left two people dead.
The Shark Tank star, 67, told a Canada court on Wednesday, July 21, that he couldn’t remember whether or not his wife was under the influence of alcohol in the hours before or after the crash. However, he did note that she “might have” had a cocktail.
In August 2019, the couple attended a dinner party at a cottage near Lake Joseph, when Linda crashed the vessel into another boat of 12 stargazers on their way home with a family friend.
The crash left Floridian Gary Poltash, 64, and mother-of-three Susanne Brito, 48, from Ontario, dead. Linda has since been charged with one non-criminal charge of careless operation of a vessel under the Canada Shipping Act.
Kevin testified in court via Zoom from his house in Los Angeles on Wednesday, where he claimed that it was a “huge surprise” when they collided into the other boat, because he hadn’t seen it until seconds before the crash.
While the Cold Hard Truth author claimed that he couldn’t remember whether or not his wife had been drinking at the dinner party that night, a female officer had previously testified that Linda told her that she had only had one drink, and claimed that “someone made her a drink when she returned from the accident.”
Linda’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, asked Kevin, “Did you see any lights before the collision?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You have to work very hard to make a boat that size be that dark,” Kevin replied. “It’s like it had a shroud on it or something.”
- Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial Is Damaging the 'American Brand,' Kevin O'Leary Claims: 'We Look Like Clowns'
- Jon Stewart Blasts Argument That Donald Trump Is Guilty of 'Victimless' Crime After $454 Million Ruling: 'You Can't Just Commit Fraud'
- Kevin O'Leary Praises Donald Trump's Ability to Get '80 Percent of the Unpaid Media Coverage' in Georgia Legal Proceedings
He also claimed there was “zero” light coming from the other boat as well, until the lights came on after the accident.
He also testified that the moments after the crash were “chaotic,” and that he and Linda called out to the other boat but did not hear a response. They were reportedly focused on the other passenger in their boat who was bleeding from a head injury.
In court, Kevin explained that he was told by a police officer at around 2 a.m. that morning that a passenger in the other vessel (Poltash) had been killed. Brito died in the hospital a few days later, and others in the crash were injured.
Whether or not the vessel had lights on is a vital aspect in regard to the outcome of the case. Kevin claimed that their boat was traveling between 14 and 20 nautical miles per hour at the time.
Despite Kevin’s claim that there were no lights on, a witness who was on the boat with the two victims testified last month, insisting that they had their lights on the entire time before they were hit and after.
“It was a gruesome scene on our boat,” the witness, Cathryn Hibbard, said. "There were lights on in the boat, so you could see everything."
She also explained that it was completely silent before the crash happened: “It was absolutely silent, quiet, serene. It was like it came out of nowhere and was so fast.”
The Ontario Provincial Police who went to the O’Leary’s home following the crash also testified that “[Linda] was very hostile toward us, she was not cooperative, she did not wish to speak to police any further, and pretty well told us she was done talking.”
The OPP noted that Kevin was cooperative.
