3 Photos
The Massachusetts boat was struck by another boat
causing significant fiber glass damage. MIKE WRIGHT
The Massachusetts boat was struck by another boat
UPDATE: TUESDAY, 11 a.m.
East Hampton Harbor Master Ed Michels said Marine Patrol was still investigating the Thursday night boat hit-and-run in Montauk.
On Tuesday morning, authorities were inspecting the 26-foot boat based in Hampton Bays that allegedly struck a 21-foot Sea Swirl Swiper.
Charges had not yet been filed against the boat pilot who came forward over the weekend.
UPDATE: Monday, 12 p.m.
The pilot of the missing boat that struck a 21-foot Sea Swirl Swiper with two fishermen on board on Friday came forward to authorities over the weekend, said East Hampton Harbor Master Ed Michels Monday morning.
The pilot was scheduled to meet with Harbor Master Michels with his attorney to discuss the incident and deal with any potential charges. Mr. Michels said on Monday he could not release further details about the incident.
ORIGINAL STORY
Two Massachusetts men were rescued from the waters off Montauk point at approximately 11 p.m. Thursday night when a boat struck their 21-foot center console and the boat and its driver fled the scene, heading east toward Block Island, said the U.S. Coast Guard. The missing boat is described as a 26-foot center console with two gray outboard Yamaha engines.
Officer Eric Best of Coast Guard Station Montauk said the boaters, who had been fishing, jumped overboard when they saw the boat coming toward them.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Marty Betts, U.S. Coast Guard public communications expert for the Long Island Sound, said a good Samaritan made a distress call, reporting that a boat was sinking. The Samaritan picked the two boaters out of the water before authorities from Coast Guard Station Montauk arrived.
Lieutenant Betts said the two boaters had returned to their boat and successfully stopped water from coming in. Their boat was towed to the Montauk station to assess the damages.
The Massachusetts boat had significant fiber glass damage, but was deemed seaworthy while the vessel that struck it is likely to have major damage to its bow, said Officer Best. He said the East Hampton Town Police Department’s Marine Division is investigating the incident and will be searching marinas and other facilities for the missing boat.
There were no injuries or pollution, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.
Jaime Zahl on Sep 18, 2015