A deadly New York boating accident was caused when a boat swerved to avoid a sightseeing speedboat as the captain struggled to see through its wake, the Associated Press reported.
A lawyer for the pilot of a 30-foot boat said the tour boat cut in front of his client’s boat Friday near the Statue of Liberty, forcing him to veer away. The tour boat’s wake made it hard to see a 17-foot boat anchored nearby. The 30-foot boat smashed into the anchored craft, killing a 30-year-old New Jersey resident.
Manhattan prosecutors continue to investigate the crash. The 39-year-old captain of the 30-foot boat is an investment banker from Jersey City and has been charged with vehicular homicide and running a boat while under the influence of alcohol. His blood-alcohol level tested at .06, below the legal limit for driving under the influence but sufficient for a boating-under-the-influence charge.
A spokesperson for Circle Line Downtown, which runs the 135-passenger speedboat, said the tour boat was the first on the scene and its captain called the Coast Guard and the New York City Police Department. She wouldn’t discuss accusations involving the tour boat but praised its crew for their quick response.
The victim was boating with two friends, who both suffered minor injuries. The defendant was boating with his wife and three toddlers; no one on that boat was injured.
July is the height of boating season. New York Injury Lawyer Nicholas Rose and the staff at our law offices urge everyone to practice boating safety and we encourage you to do your part to stay safe on the water.
In 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,789 boating accidents, which killed 709 people and injured 3,331.
About Boating Accidents:
-Over two-thirds of fatal boating accident victims drown.
-The top five causes for boating accidents are careless/reckless operation, operator inattention, failure to use a proper lookout, operator inexperience and passenger/skier behavior.
-Alcohol is the leading contributing factor of fatal boating accidents — alcohol use was listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of all boating deaths.
If you have been injured in a boating accident in New York, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester or Rockland counties, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose to discuss your rights. Call 718.261.0549.
