A Jackson, Neb., man was sentenced this Wednesday to two years in prison for the death of his friend in a drunk boating accident last year.

The incident occurred June 27, 2009, on the Missouri River near the Port Neal Industrial complex in rural Salix, Iowa.

The driver and his friend spent the majority of the day drifting south on the River. When they began to sail back north on the river, the driver stopped the boat when he saw a large wave bearing down on them.

The stop caused his friend to fall overboard, where he drowned.

The driver pled guilty to operating a boat while intoxicated causing death. It was part of a plea deal wherein prosecutors dropped a second charge of operating a boat while intoxicated causing serious injuries.

The victim’s mother said that she did not want the guilty man to go to prison, because he and her son had been friends for 10 years and loved boating together.

The incident was an unfortunate and tragic accident, but the driver did not deserve prison time for it, she said.