On September 2, 2024, the Coast Guard received a call at around 9 PM, reporting that a boat had collided with the river’s break wall, causing a tragic accident and potential loss of lives in Old Saybrook.
Soon after the call, multiple crews from surrounding towns responded to the message and geared up to find the missing individuals from the Connecticut River.
Moreover, nine people from Old Saybrook were on board at the time of the boat accident, and the assistant team immediately rescued six.
MCI boat accident old saybrook, 8+ in water some 5 recovered serious injuries – 3 still missing, 6 ambulances multi medics, dive team – aviation assets requested lifestar, eagle 1, USCG Jayhawk from cape cod
— Mark V (@MarkV80) September 3, 2024
However, three males in their mid to late 20s are missing as their locations couldn’t be identified by the rescue team, given the accident took place at night. They weren’t wearing their lifejackets, making it difficult to find them.
Meanwhile, rescuers took the six individuals—one man and five women between the ages of 24-30—to the nearest hospital after they sustained minimal injuries when the boat crashed into the break wall.
Given the emergency, the Guilford team arrived at the team with additional boats, diving personnel, and ambulances from the nearest towns to locate the remaining individuals.
Likewise, the Coast Guard has provided additional Cape Cod helicopters for investigation assistance, as the boat traveled at high speed during the incident.
Old Saybrook is a common place for boat accidents, as many reports of the incidents have been recorded!
Old Saybrook, as one of the oldest towns in the State, has a significant history and has thrived in recent years as a connecting point between the Connecticut River and the Long Island Sound.
Moreover, boats often transport people between these two places, offering round trips to several tourists. The companies also provide a trip within 1 hour and 20 minutes, including a high-speed ferry ride.
Over the years, the area has witnessed several boat incidents, including the recent one in which three people are still missing.
Connecticut boating accident leaves 5 people injured, 3 others missing: The U.S. Coast Guard rescued five people and is searching for three others following a boat crash Monday night in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. https://t.co/Qmg1FuCvDy
— MemeStreamNews (@MemeStreamNews) September 3, 2024
One such case happened on September 5, 2023, when a 38-foot cigarette boat crashed into a break wall, and authorities took four people to the hospital. The Department of Energy and Protection spokesperson reported the incident around 9:35 PM.
Likewise, DEEP’s Environmental Conservation police responded to the emergency along with the U.S. Coast Guard and local fire police, which helped avoid casualties.
Meanwhile, on June 31, 2023, a similar boat accident took place in Old Saybrook, where a man sustained injuries after crashing into a Jetty. Police speculated that one more person was in the incident but later found no evidence.
Due to the frequency of such emergencies, Connecticut Public Radio launched a safety program that advised listeners on ways to stay safe in the waters.
Additional Information
- The authorities involved in the rescue mission have yet to release the present status of the three missing people in Old Saybrook.
- Police have advised people in an emergency needing Coast Guard assistance to use VHF-FM Channel 16 and dial 911 for immediate assistance.
