10-year-old girl killed, woman loses leg in boating incident in Chatham County

A man is facing charges after a 10-year-old was killed and a woman was injured in a boating incident on Harris Lake in Chatham County on Saturday.

According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), a 10-year-old girl was killed and a woman was severely injured. The woman was airlifted to the hospital, where authorities said her left leg was amputated.

Investigators said they believe 40-year-old Quinten Kight was operating a Tige wake boat, pulling a tube behind, circling around, and drove the boat into a group of three swimmers, causing the injuries and death.

Kight was charged with felony boating while impaired and misdemeanor boating while impaired. Authorities said they’re awaiting the results of a blood draw conducted on him after the incident.

Orange-Chatham District Attorney Jeff Nieman said the charges could be elevated to second-degree murder.

“It appeared that everybody, including Mr. Kight, were looking backwards at the person being pulled and not forwards, which contributed to where we find ourselves today,” Nieman said. “Tragically, that prop severed a leg of both of these victims.”

Investigators said the girl who was killed and woman who was injured were swimming together as part of a group at the lake. Wake County Public School System confirmed the girl was a fifth-grade student at West Lake Elementary School and the woman, Jennifer Stehle, is a social worker at the school, which is located in Apex.

“This was a heartbreaking accident, but one that was preventable,” Sheriff Mike Roberson said in a statement Monday morning. “Alcohol was a factor, and the decision to operate a boat while impaired had devastating consequences. We urge everyone to think twice before mixing alcohol with watercraft operation. It only takes a moment for lives to be changed forever.”

Thirty-nine empty alcohol containers on Kight’s boat after the wreck and an additional 50 empty alcohol containers outside of the boat, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Officers tried to do an onside sobriety test on Kight after the accident but “determined that he was unable to follow the instructions,” Nieman said.

‘Just heartbreaking’

ABC11 spoke with boaters at Harris Lake on Sunday afternoon, many of whom expressed concern over the tragic incident.

“It’s just heartbreaking to hear that a family lost their child out here yesterday,” said Kate Schnier, who has been boating regularly on Harris Lake with her husband for over a decade.

Schnier said it’s a sad reminder of the safety precautions that need to be taken when out on the water.

“There’s all different kinds of people out on the lake. Oh. At all times of the day. So you have to be aware of your surroundings and look all over when you’re on a boat,” she said.

ABC11 was unable to reach family and friends of the girl killed. Investigators said

Kight is being held at the Chatham County Jail, pending a court appearance. Authorities said they’re awaiting the results of a blood draw conducted on Kight after the incident.

ABC11 is The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner.

This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM with the headline "10-year-old girl killed, woman loses leg in boating incident in Chatham County."