NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Coast Guard, Newport News Fire Department and Virginia Marine Police worked together to rescue 10 people from the water after their vessel capsized near the James River Bridge, early Saturday morning.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads received a call from Newport News Police Department who reported the capsized vessel with ten people in the water.
A 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth launched to respond. The Coast Guard boatcrew arrived on scene and rescued two people from the water. Newport News Fire Department rescued the other eight. They were all transported to Aberdeen pier.
Two survivors were taken to a hospital for reported minor scrapes. An officer of the Virginia Marine Police charged the vessel operator with boating under the influence.
“Boaters should always wear their life jackets and never operate a vessel under the influence,” said Lt. Brad Milliken, the command duty officer at Sector Hampton Roads command center. “While there were no reports of severe injuries in this incident, the outcomes in cases like this can be far worse, because not wearing life jackets and boating under the influence are the two leading factors in boating fatalities.”
The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
