On July 23rd, a celebratory ride up the Hudson River turned tragic as a boat carrying a bride-to-be, her groom, and several other members of the bridal party crashed into a barge. An investigation has revealed the boating accident was caused by the operator, who was intoxicated and either failed to see the barge or failed to accurately compensate the boat’s course.
The group had been out for an evening of dinner and celebration marking the upcoming nuptials. Shortly after leaving a restaurant, the boat they were all riding in struck a construction barge on the Hudson River. Several members of the group were thrown from the boat. Two of them succumbed to injuries and drowned. Tragically, the two victims were the bride-to-be and the groom’s best man. Their bodies were recovered in the days following the initial accident. The coroner’s office has officially released the cause of death as drowning but noted the bride-to-be suffered massive head trauma during the accident that contributed to her death.
On July 23rd, a celebratory ride up the Hudson River turned tragic as a boat carrying a bride-to-be, her groom, and several other members of the bridal party crashed into a barge. An investigation has revealed the boating accident was caused by the operator, who was intoxicated and either failed to see the barge or failed to accurately compensate the boat’s course.
The group had been out for an evening of dinner and celebration marking the upcoming nuptials. Shortly after leaving a restaurant, the boat they were all riding in struck a construction barge on the Hudson River. Several members of the group were thrown from the boat. Two of them succumbed to injuries and drowned. Tragically, the two victims were the bride-to-be and the groom’s best man. Their bodies were recovered in the days following the initial accident. The coroner’s office has officially released the cause of death as drowning but noted the bride-to-be suffered massive head trauma during the accident that contributed to her death.
A police investigation revealed the driver of the boat was under the influence of alcohol and his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. A longtime family friend, the driver has been charged with vehicular homicide. Sadly, he had already been in trouble with the law and was out on a three-year stretch of probation for an unrelated drug charge.
This tragic accident reveals the dangers of operating any type of machinery while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It also illustrates that no matter how careful you are, you can never fully account for the actions of others.
Boating accidents are fairly common in New York City waterways though deadly ones such as this are not. However, even accidents in which all the victims survive can be catastrophic. Often accidents on the water lead to lethal or even non-lethal drowning accidents which can have far-reaching consequences for those who survive. Brain injuries and months or years of rehabilitation are not uncommon in these cases and cost families hundreds of thousands of dollars.
If you or a loved one has been in a boating accident caused by someone else, that individual may be legally responsible for financially compensating you for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering, in addition to any criminal penalties the a courts may assess. , you and your family can seek restitution but only if you act fast. Only an experienced New York City boating accident attorney can safeguard your rights. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122.