A man was killed when a boat came out of the water and careened into a home in West Fire Island Thursday, according to cops and stunning photos of the incident.
The watercraft wound up flipped over as it demolished part of the house’s deck at approximately 7:35 a.m. in the Great South Bay, Suffolk County Police said in a statement.
Two men were on the boat at the time of the accident.
“I feel for the families. I’m praying it wasn’t foul play. I’m praying it was just an accident,” said John Scherger, who is a neighbor of the home that was hit. “I don’t know. I’m just praying for it positive things.”
One man was killed when the boat crashed into the dock. News12 Long IslandChristopher Cannella, who survived the crash, called 911 after the 30-foot Wellcraft center console boat went airborne and smashed into the home, according to Suffolk County Police.
The West Babylon native was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore with non-life-threatening injuries, cops said.
The other man was declared dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending family notification.
An injured man was treated after a boat came out of the water. Islip Fire DepartmentDrone images of the calamity shared by Long Island 12 News show the boat tipped over, laying haphazardly under the home’s deck, which sits more than ten yards from the water.
Police said no one was in the home at the time of the crash.
Two dogs were also rescued and appeared uninjured, according to reports. Islip Fire Department“They had to borrow my golf cart to transport the other victim to the other side of the island. I don’t know, the weather was pretty good this morning,” Scherger said. “It was a little windy but, the boat is a twin engine, looked really seaworthy, so I don’t know, I can only speculate.”
Authorities are still investigating which man was operating the boat and what caused the accident to occur.
Police said the men had departed to go fishing before daybreak on Thursday morning, although it’s not clear exactly what time they left or from where.
The boat was traveling westbound in the channel at the time of the crash, according to police. The Islip Fire Department said it appears the boat was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Police said the incident occurred at approximately 7:35 a.m. News12 Long IslandCops said first responders had to wade roughly 100 yards through the water to reach the island, as the water is too shallow for a boat to get through, SCPD said.
The boat did go airborne to travel as far as it did, police said.
The other passenger on the boat was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. News12 Long Island
A drone image of West Fire Island after the incident. News12 Long IslandDrone images show lawn furniture scattered across the home’s deck as the boat is on its side, some ways away from the water.
The extent of the damage was also not immediately clear.
Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives are investigating.
