A LYNDOCH man will face court accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to a boat crash which killed Gawler South man Chad Gill last year.

Mr Gill, 37, was killed in February 22, 2019 when, during a “night-time cruise”, two dinghies collided just before 10pm.

Another man, 42-year-old Gawler East resident Glenn Justice, was seriously and permanently injured in the incident.

On Friday, police announced a 41-year-old Lyndoch man had been arrested and charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He was bailed and will appear in the Waikerie Magistrates Court on September 21.

Murray Mallee Local Service Area officer in charge Superintendent James Blandford said the arrest was part of the Riverland Criminal Investigation Branch’s (CIB) “Operation Veritas”.

“Operation Vertias was established by the Berri CIB to review the initial investigation, seek new and compelling lines of inquiry about the facts surrounding the boating crash and the veracity of witness recounts during the initial investigation,” he said.

“Attempting to pervert the course of justice is a serious offence with a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

“Operation Veritas will keep investing the boat crash and further arrests are likely.

“Something has gone wrong, tragically wrong, but we’re not getting the correct version (of events).”

On the night of the fatal crash, a group of seven people, including Mr Gill and Mr Justice, were camping on the banks of the Murray River and were all on the two boats during the incident.

Last year, Mr Gill’s cousin Alex Gill, of Williamstown, was arrested and charged with perverting the course of justice, causing death by dangerous driving and causing harm by dangerous driving – although the latter two charges were later dropped.

Superintendent Blanford called on the public to contact police if they had any information about the incident.

“Somebody knows exactly what happened on the night of that crash, notwithstanding the men involved,” he said.

“Surely it’s time to respect the memory of Chad Gill and the permanent injury suffered by Glenn Justice to help determine an accurate account of what actually happened.

“The family of those two men are stuck with an unresolved, incomplete and uncertain fact about what happened and why their lives have been so devastatingly changed.”

Superintendent Blanford said police were interested to hear from anyone who may have heard a second-hand account of the crash, or who saw the seven campers in or around Swan Reach prior to the incident.

Anyone with information about the crash can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.