Man arrested following boating crash death on Otter Tail Lake

One man is dead and another has been arrested following a fatal boating crash on Otter Tail Lake this past weekend.

According to a release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a serious boat crash on the east side of Otter Tail Lake. Reports initially indicated that an adult man was unaccounted for.

Prior to first responders arriving, a man, identified as 52-year-old Neil Baker of Elysian, was located. Baker was pronounced dead at the scene when first responders arrived.

An investigation revealed that Baker had just returned to the dock after he and several family members had been out on the lake. While other family members exited the boat, Baker and his wife remained on the boat to secure it to the dock and organize its contents. While doing this, the Baker’s neighbor to the north, Charles Gramith, 73, struck the parked boat at a high rate of speed. Baker and his wife were thrown from the boat.

Gramith was later placed under arrest.

An investigation into this incident is ongoing.