Pelham man charged in 2023 hit-and-run boat crash on Lake Winnipesaukee

Paul Feely, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
·1 min read

Apr. 26—A Pelham man has been arrested in connection to an Aug. 2023 hit-and-run boating crash on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, state police said.

Demosthenes Macheras, 69, was taken into custody Friday morning on misdemeanor charges of simple assault and hindering apprehension, state police said in a release.

Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol reported receiving a call for a boat crash on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Upon arrival, officers reported finding a 50-foot SeaRay boat registered out of Windham that ended up on rocks in Winter Harbor after crashing into an unoccupied, docked boat, officials said.

Marine Patrol said in a news release the SeaRay operator, a male, was taken from the scene by another boat, a blue 1997 Well Craft registered out of Pelham, before officers arrived.

Witnesses reported seeing several passengers also taken from the scene, heading towards Tuftonboro.

The Well Craft was later found docked at a house in Tuftonboro on Sunday morning, Marine Patrol said.

The docked boat was unoccupied at the time of the crash and there were no reported injuries, officials said.

During the course of the investigation, Macheras was identified as the operator of the 1997 Well Craft that removed the operator and passengers of the SeaRay from the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, state police said.

Macheras is scheduled to appear in Ossipee District Court on June 4.

Anyone who has information that may assist the ongoing investigation is asked to contact Marine Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Haroutunian at (603) 227-2112 or via email at Nicholas.M.Haroutunian@dos.nh.gov, or call State Police dispatch at (603) 846-3333.