Boat Crash in N.Y. Highlights Dangers of Boating Under the Influence

A fatal boat crash off Long Island, New York, is prompting a safety initiative.

The Coast Guard and local law enforcers are part of the renewed effort to target unsafe conditions for boaters and residents off the coast of Long Island and Fire Island.

Christopher Mannino of West Islip was killed in the weekend crash.

Authorities say he was a passenger in a fishing boat when another boat hit its side around 5 a.m. Saturday. The operator was charged with boating while under the influence.

Authorities say 20 percent of all boating fatalities are a result of alcohol impairment.

July is the area’s busiest period of the year for boating traffic and accidents.

 

Latest Comments

• June 27, 2012 at 2:52 pm

  nk says:

  If you get into a car accident and kill someone it is called manslaughter, and off to jail you go. Is it the same for killing someone in a watercraft accident? I would hope ... read more
• June 27, 2012 at 2:22 pm

  reality bites says:

  Research through Google found other articles - the boat was a Skeeter - high-performance catamaran. Great boat in need of an intelligent operator.
• June 27, 2012 at 2:20 pm

  Bob says:

  I must have missed something in the article as I didn't see where the boat that struck the fishing boat was described as a performance boat. Having said that, I agree that the... read more

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