Operator charged after Hudson boating accident

[alp227]

Source: WABC (ABC 7 New York City)

The driver of a speedboat carrying a bride-to-be and five others that crashed in the Hudson River late Friday night has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.

Rockland County Sheriff's Department Chief William Barbera said Saturday 35-year-old Jojo John of Nyack was also charged with vehicular assault. Barbera says John may have operating the boat while intoxicated.

Earlier Saturday, a body matching the description of 30-year-old Lindsey Stewart, of Piermont, was found in the water. Stewart was set to be married Aug. 10.

Rescuers are still trying to locate her fiance's best man, 30-year-old Mark Lennon. The search for him was suspended Saturday evening, and will resume Sunday around 10 a.m.

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/northern_suburbs&id=9186957

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Story has also been covered on CNN: Boat operator charged in Hudson River crash; engaged couple on board

[Historic NY]

1. Boating while intoxicated...

number one cause for most incidents. I wonder if the sheriff had patrols out? We see more and more DEC, Sheriff & State Police river patrols out on the Hudson River. It was pretty bad when people complained about getting stopped multiple times a couple years back.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Sheriff/NYSP watercraft operate in daylight hours only.

Boating at night is always a dangerous affair. Anytime I'd do it, I would crawl thru the water out of fear of submerged objects or various damaging flotsam. It's pretty clear this nitwit was going balls-out for two passengers to be ejected into the water.