Collision in NY Harbor

It was just announced that 2 boats have collided near the Statue of Liberty. One man dead; one in jail. A 30' Proline T-boned a 17' Bayliner that was stopped. The driver of the Proline reportedly failed a breathalizer test. There were 3 on the Bayliner. The other 2 recieved only minor injuries. There was a family on the Proline. None of them was injured.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/03/nyregion/03boat.html
The driver of the Proline, Richard Applebaum, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.

I'd say his life is effectively ruined now and getting worse by the minute, and rightly so. The helm and liquor don't mix; not a drop. And yes, still daylight. Can you imagine what he could have done a couple hours later in the dark?

I don't know of any high speed excursion boats that go by the statue which throw a big wake, but there would be tons of wakes (2'-3') in that area from the normal traffic. They don't obscure a boat from a prudent operator. Once the breatalizer scores that's it. Even if other things factored in they could have been dealt with better with a clear head. That book needs to be thrown and the lawyers need to be called. This happens too often and it has to stop.

Never been good with names. Absolutely fair trial. This is America. DWI/BWI isn't easy to beat though. Evidently the DA thinks so as well as charges were brought fast. If this were a slightly less common occurance I'd be more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunatley to find someone who has had a drink before taking the helm on July 4th weekend is not exactly hard. I'm really just sick of the lives lost to stupidity every summer. I seem to recall that you had something to do with emergency services. If I'm correct on that you've undoubtedly been on the calls. Sorry if I appeared like a lynch mob. Not my intention. Let's put it this way. If he in fact has been drinking and driving with his family on board and that contributed to this accident, I hope they lock his butt away for a long time and sue the pants of him.

Absolutely agree. Not long ago we had a case here I'm sure you heard about with the flower girl in the limo. I lost my last shred of tolerance with that one and watching the guy who did it trying to weasel his way out of responsibility with zero compassion for the victims. But we do have a justice system.

Hi Mark,
That's the red Sea Screamer boat "BEAST"
( http://www.allnewyorktours.com/body.asp?tour=NYC-W0024&page=TourDetails ) you're referring to? It stays with the channel and throws about the same wake as the taxis. You know NY Harbor. July 4th weekend (and most other days) it's a constant 3' confused chop between the Battery & Liberty Island what with the dinner boats, the SI Ferry, the water taxis, tugs, the BEAST and the 5,000 private maniacs that are blasting through there at any given moment this weekend. If someone can't handle that @ 26kts they should be taking it @ 5kts or whatever works. That's a real bad excuse. Once he rings the breathalizer bell and they charge him with manslaughter he loses the benefit of the doubt with me. Not that it couldn't be wrong which is why we have trials, but , short of the throttles, gears and stearing all freezing, that boy needs a very good lawyer (who will undoubtedly look for payment up front all things considered).