Four Boaters Uninjured After Hudson River Maritime Hit and Run
Luckily, a collision involving a cargo ship and a speed boat on the Hudson River end without any injuries or fatalities. A Hollywood director, however, did get the chance to play hero when he helped the boaters to safety.
According to news reports, an unidentified cargo ship crashed into a sailboat and continued down the Hudson river at around 1 am. The four occupants of the sailboat did not realize they were in danger until the massive ship was upon them. .jpg)
Three passengers were thrown from the boat and one stayed on the vessel, or rather the small piece of the hull left floating in the water. At the scene of the accident was Doug Liman, director of films like Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Liman and his friend Avram Ludwig were on a sailboat and saw the cargo ship slice through the smaller sailboat. The two quickly rushed to the scene and helped three of the passengers out of the river.
The Coast Guard is investigating the accident and is still trying to identify the 300-foot cargo ship involved in this maritime hit and run. There is no information about whether the large vessel was a tanker or freighter. Reports indicate the large boat may not have felt the impact of the collision.
Vessel Collisions
The four people on the sailboat, according to the Coast Guard, were extremely lucky to survive the accident. Generally, collisions involving two vessels in which one is several times larger than the other, end in fatalities. It is highly likely that the cargo ship did not see the 42-foot sailboat in the pitch dark. Sailboat crews should be cautious when pleasure boating on waters used as shipping lanes. Coast Guard officers have, for some time now, been warning of the increasing number of accidents involving cargo vessels and recreation boats. Boaters must take care and stay out of waterways known to be frequented by tankers and other large vessels, especially after dark.
The maritime lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP represent injured cargo vessel crews, cruise ship employees, offshore workers, and other Jones Act seamen.
