Left: Eric Head (Bibb County Jail). Middle: William Childs (Fairhaven Funeral Home). Right: Head”s racing boat after he crashed into Childs’ pontoon boat while intoxicated (Georgia Department of Natural Resources via WGXA).
The tragic events on Lake Tobesofkee in Macon began to unfold in the early hours of July 24, 2021. Eric Head, a Georgia boater, had been consuming alcohol for hours before his boat collided with a pontoon carrying seven people. In the aftermath, Head, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, reportedly expressed his fear and remorse by saying, “I’m drunk, I’m drunk. I’m going to prison. Out of all the stupid things I’ve done, this is what gets me. Please God, don’t let anybody be dead over there.”
Unfortunately, Head’s hopes were dashed. The crash resulted in the death of 22-year-old William Michael Childs, who was enjoying a night on the lake with friends, and left several others injured. Head’s grim prediction about facing prison time for the incident has now become a reality.
This week, a jury found Head, now 61, guilty on multiple charges, including first-degree homicide by vessel, serious injury by vessel, reckless conduct, and operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol. The verdict underscores the serious consequences of his actions.
The boating accident took place around 2 a.m., and a criminal complaint details that Head and a companion had been drinking on his racing-style boat before stopping at Fish ‘n Pig, a local bar, for more drinks. Meanwhile, Childs, who worked as an assistant manager at the bar, was out on the lake with friends aboard a pontoon boat.
The incident occurred around 2 a.m. July 24, 2021, on Lake Tobesofkee in Macon. According to a criminal complaint obtained by local Fox and ABC affiliate WGXA, Head and his buddy were on his racing-style boat drinking. They went to Fish ‘n Pig, a local bar, and had some drinks.
Meanwhile, Childs, an assistant manager at the bar, and his friends hopped on a pontoon boat and went out onto the lake.
After the bar, Head got back into his boat and was driving under a bridge when he noticed a Black man fishing from it. Head reportedly became upset because fishing is not allowed on the bridge and started spewing racial epithets at the man while still behind the wheel of the boat.
Head was speeding around the bridge when he “mowed over” Childs’ stationary pontoon boat with six other passengers aboard. Head’s boat became airborne and landed several hundred yards down the lake before it sank, WGXA reported. Head and his passenger were uninjured and he called several friends for help, reportedly leaving voicemails admitting he was drunk.
In the pontoon boat, Childs suffered a blow to the head while a woman in her 20s suffered serious injuries. Five other passengers had minor injuries, per the TV station.
A grand jury indicted Head in April 2022 and a jury convicted him after an eight-day trial.
According to a courtroom report from local CBS affiliate WMAZ, prosecutors told jurors that Head “drank too much and drove too fast.” But Head’s attorney Robert Cabe reportedly said his client was not intoxicated at the time of the crash. Cabe also pointed out that Childs had also been drinking and smoked marijuana. He also stopped the boat in a “no wake” zone and had not taken a boater safety case, per WMAZ.
But jurors sided with the prosecution and found Head guilty on all counts. He faces 15 years behind bars when he’s sentenced on Thursday.
Childs’ obituary said he found his passion when he started working at the Fish ‘n Pig, working his way up to assistant manager with the goal of owning the restaurant one day.
“Will was such an incredible, kind, adventurous, loving, caring and selfless young man,” the obituary reads. “Will had a great passion for motocross racing and was proud of the many trophies and plaques he won on the tracks.”
