NEEDLES, Calif. A San Bernardino County sheriff’s sergeant once recognized for heroism is now under criminal investigation following a tragic boating crash that claimed the life of a father of two on the Colorado River.
Weston Stewart, 38, of La Verne, was killed Friday evening after a 22-foot Cheetah deck boat collided with the vessel he was on. The fatal crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. just south of the Needles Bridge, near the California-Arizona border.
According to officials, Stewart was aboard an 18-foot Sanger boat that was adrift in the water when it was struck by the larger vessel, operated by Sgt. Bruce Southworth, an off-duty member of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Emergency crews responded quickly, with deputies and fire personnel performing CPR at the scene. Stewart was transported to Colorado River Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Department confirmed, “Alcohol appears to be a factor in this incident.” Sgt. Southworth was arrested at the scene and booked on suspicion of negligent operation of a watercraft while intoxicated causing injury—a felony under California’s Harbors and Navigation Code. He has since been released on bond.
The incident marks a dramatic and somber turn in the career of Sgt. Southworth, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Valor in 2018 for his role in rescuing a wounded officer during the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting. He is now on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Weston Stewart is being remembered by loved ones as a devoted husband, father to two young boys, and a beloved son and brother. A GoFundMe page created for his family highlights his “big heart and fun-loving spirit,” painting a picture of a life filled with love, laughter, and deep connections.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Deputy William Poe at the Colorado River Station/Needles Police Department at (760) 326-9200. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME or online at wetip.com.
As the Stewart family and the community mourn this devastating loss, questions continue to mount about how such a preventable tragedy could unfold—and what accountability will follow.
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