The boat driver accused of causing a boating accident in 2009 that killed his friend pleaded guilty to operating a boat while intoxicated causing death this Wednesday. He will serve two years in prison.

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

The driver and his friend were heading back home after a day of drifting on the river when the driver stopped suddenly to avoid a large wave. The stop threw his friend overboard, killing him.

The guilty plea was part of a deal wherein prosecutors dropped additional charges against the man.

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.