The 39-foot boat crashed into a seawall after the driver was allegedly boating under the influence. A 27-year-old woman was killed, and her sister was one of the three others hurt. NBC New York’s Adam Kuperstein reports.
What to Know
- A 27-year-old woman was killed and three others were seriously injured after their boat crashed off Long Island Sunday night
- Suffolk County police say the 39-foot Cobalt boat struck a bulkhead near the entrance to James Creek in Mattituk just after 9 p.m.
- Kelley Blanchard of Riverhead was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said; the driver has been charged with drunken boating
UPDATE: Drunken Boating Charges Dropped in Deadly Long Island Crash
A 27-year-old woman was killed and three others were seriously injured after their boat crashed off Long Island Sunday night.
Suffolk County police say the 39-foot Cobalt boat struck a bulkhead near the entrance to James Creek in Mattituk just after 9 p.m. Two of the boat passengers were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in an ambulance and two had to be airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Kelley Blanchard of Riverhead was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.
Frank Distefano, 48, of East Northport was identified as the operator of the vessel and charged with boating while intoxicated, while other charges anticipated to be filed. He was released and will be arraigned later this month, prosecutors said; information on a possible attorney for him wasn't available.
Nick Soullas, 41, of Jamesport, and Megan Blanchard, 29, of New Suffolk, were the other two injured passengers. Megan Blanchard is the sister of the victim killed in the crash, and was undergoing surgery Monday afternoon.
Southold Town Police confirmed that the boat was traveling at a "significant speed" at the time of the crash, evidenced by the damage to the front end of the boat and to the bulkhead.
An investigation is ongoing.
