At approximately 03:00 hours Saturday morning, Boston Police Harbor Patrol, MassPort Fire, Boston Fire, The U.S. Coast Guard and Mass State Police responded a distress call from a vessel that had apparently crashed off of Castle Island. Early reports indicated that the boat, a non-commercial center console style craft, had struck an object, sending multiple parties into the water.
First arriving rescuers reported numerous missing parties in the water and an overturn boat off of Castle Island. The boat appeared to have crashed into a day marker buoy approximately 300 yards off of the shore. Screams from men and women for help could be heard off of land as rescuers scoured the water for survivors.
Seven people have been confirmed to have been pulled from the water with injuries ranging from minor scratches and bruises too serious, major injuries. Numerous people could be seen offloaded from rescue boats onto awaiting stretcher’s that were waiting at Black Falcon Pier with Boston EMTs and Paramedics at the ready to stabilize the injured parties.
Officials from the coast guard have confirmed that seven people were rescued. A total five were transported to local area hospitals including BMC, Tufts and MGH. Two others adamantly refused medical care and left the scene.
The dive team from Boston Police, Boston Fire and the State Police was activated with an eighth person still unaccounted for in the water. Divers, Search Boats, and Helicopters could be seen until approximately 11:00 hours when the search concluded.
Officials from the Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police were able to confirm that the body of the eighth subject who was missing, an adult female, was recovered by Boston Fire Divers as part of a joint search operation by numerous agencies mentioned above as well as the Environmental Police, Cambridge, and Quincy. They also were able to confirm that Boston Police Homicide would be the primary agency handling the incident.
At this time there is not a exact cause for the crash however numerous sources we spoke to speculate that alcohol may have been a major factor in the horrific incident. We have not been able to confirm this or if any charges are to be expected to follow. At this time no further information is available.
The Boston Police Department is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident and is asking anyone with information relative to this investigation to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470.
Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to assist this investigation in an anonymous manner.
To those who find themselves in need of emotional support or simply needing to talk to someone about distressing events in our community, the Boston Neighborhood Trauma Team (NTT) provides free, private support 24/7 at (617) 431-0125 or by visiting BPHC.org/trauma.
