UPDATES (2): Tubing Accident Fatality in Greater Greenwich Harbor

By: |
Print

Screen Shot 2014-08-06 at 3.52.22 PM

Update: Wed., August 6, 8:15pm. Statement from Lt. Kraig Gray, Public Information officer, Greenwich Police:

This afternoon four local Greenwich girls were boating on the Long Island Sound off Greenwich Point Park.  The girls, who are all 16-years-old,  were operating a privately owned recreational boat powered by an outboard motor.  The girls had been “tubing” which is when one or more tube riders tether their tubes to a motor boat. The riders are then towed through the water by the boat.  This afternoon, for a yet to be determined reason, the two girls who had been tubing were in the water and came into contact with the propeller of outboard engine.  The first girl was transported to the Stamford Hospital for a soft tissue injury to her leg which required extensive stitching. The second girl sustained a fatal wound and died at the scene.
The immediate families of all the involved teens have been notified.  The name of the deceased will not be released at this time allowing them to make notifications to their extended family. The name of the victim should be released officially no later than noon on August 7, 2014 by the Greenwich Police Department PIO.
The primary investigator on scene personal assessment of the incident is; this is a tragic accident. The incident will continue to be investigated by the Greenwich Police Department Marine Section in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).  Questions regarding the boat accident should be directed to the DEEP Public Information Officer. Questions regarding the deceased should be directed to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).
Our thoughts and prayers go the victim, her family, and her friends.

Lieutenant Kraig Gray
Public Information Office

Update: Wednesday, Aug. 6, 7:27pm

Statement from Superintednet of Schools William McKersie:

“This evening, we are mourning the devastating loss of one of our Greenwich High School students, a rising junior, who was involved in a boating accident today on the Long Island Sound. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time of tragedy. There are few words that can express the deep compassion we feel for the family of the young girl that has died and for the three other girls involved in the accident.  The Greenwich Public School community is ready to support the girls involved and their families in every way possible.

The names of the girls are being withheld pending notification of family members. Although school is not in session, we will make counselors available for the school communities at the appropriate time.”

Original Story: Wednesday, Aug 6, 3:30pm

There has been a fatality in Greenwich Harbor. According to Greenwich Harbor Master, “A man, not a member of the Old Greenwich Yacht Club, was driving a power boat with his kids tubing behind it. The kids flipped off the tube and he circle around to to pick them up and killed one of the girls. He ran them over,” MacMillian said.

MacMillian said one girl is on the dock being tended to by EMS, and that he was in Byram when he got word of the accident, and his understanding is that there were two girls who were tubing at the time of the accident, and there is one fatality so far.

“This is something I have been dreading as long as I can remember,” MacMillan said. “On a beautiful day like today to have a father injur his own child with a boating accident is horrific.”

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.