Ryan O’Neal Son Charged in Boat Death of Coppola’s

The son of movie actor Ryan O’Neal was indicted today on six counts, including boat manslaughter, in the Memorial Day boating accident death of the son of movie director Francis Ford Coppola.

Griffin O’Neal, 21, was also charged with reckless driving and negligent driving of a boat, said Warren Duckett, Anne Arundel County state’s attorney.

O’Neal and Gian-Carlo Coppola, 23, were operating a rented 14-foot runabout on the crowded South River near Annapolis on Memorial Day when their boat struck a tow rope connecting two other boats.

Coppola was thrown to the deck of the boat, suffering fatal head injuries. O’Neal suffered only minor injuries.

Coppola family spokesman Lynn Hale said Coppola was in the area assisting his father with his new film, “Gardens of Stone,” which has been shooting in Arlington, Va.

Gerald Anders, the assistant state’s attorney who handled the investigation, said he did not know where O’Neal was and has not been able to reach his lawyer since the grand jury made its decision. He said he will recommend that O’Neal be allowed to post bond while awaiting trial.

Anders said he expects to take the case to trial in September.

An autopsy on Coppola showed his blood alcohol content to be 0.15%, the equivalent of about five drinks. It is illegal under Maryland law to operate a boat with blood alcohol level of 0.08% or above.

O’Neal told natural resources police who arrived at the scene within minutes after the accident that Coppola was operating the boat. But witnesses told police that it appeared that O’Neal was the operator.

O’Neal was not tested for alcohol at the time of the accident, police said.

Anders said boat manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a $1,000 fine. The other charges, all relating to reckless and negligent operation of a boat, carry sentences ranging from 30 days to three months and fines of $25 to $300.