Mark Lane, a managing director at Lazard Capital Markets who recently returned to work after a 3 1/2-year hiatus to help raise four young sons, has died after being hit by a boat in Turks and Caicos Islands. He was 44.

Lane was on a family vacation when he was struck by a motor boat March 24 while swimming off Grace Bay beach on Providenciales, said Paul Baker, of the Royal Turks and Caicos Police. He was snorkeling, his wife said yesterday in an interview.

After the collision, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time, he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The incident is under police investigation. rgest independent merger adviser.