Miami Injury Lawyer Blog
Late Friday evening, a bride-to-be and a best man died in a horrible boat crash on the Hudson River. Four others, including the groom-to-be, suffered injuries when their boat crashed into a construction barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge. The couple was set to be married on August 10. Walter Kosik, the stepfather of the bride-to-be, Lindsey Stewart, said that the dim barge lights are to blame for this tragic accident. Kosik said he spoke to the groom-to-be, Brian Bond, who said all six people aboard the powerboat had their eyes on the water, yet none of them saw the barge’s dim lights.
Kosik told the Journal News that there needs to be a conversation about the lighting on the barges. He said, “You’ve got two anchor lights, one on each side of the barge. With the glare off the bridge, you can’t see it.” Kosik went on to say that “It’s just amazing that, the following day, [Gov. Andrew] Cuomo put lights on those barges, lighting it up like a Christmas tree 24 hours from when they got killed.” The New York State Thruway Authority continues to investigate the crash, but it has stated that it appears that the barge lighting was functioning normally at the time of the accident. Spokesman Dan Weiler stated that the extra lights were placed on the barge following the accident “to go above and beyond to try and prevent something like this from happening again.”
Bond informed Kosik that each person on the powerboat had about one alcoholic beverage before the crash occurred. The boat operator, Jojo John, had a few drinks, but Kosik said if John was that drunk, nobody would have gone out on the boat. John has since been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with Stewart’s death. No charges have been filed against John in connection with Lennon’s death.
Relative blames dim barge lights for NY boat crash, www.miamiherald.com July 31, 2013
Alcohol intoxication and the inability to see other boats or barges on the water are two leading causes of deadly boating accidents. Tragically, two individuals died much too young and the families and friends they left behind will forever be affected by this loss. The Miami Beach boating accident attorneys at the Friedland | Carmona have over twenty years of experience working with victims of boating accidents and their families. Jonathan Friedland and Michael Carmona are Fort Lauderdale motor vehicle accident lawyers have dedicated their careers to recovering compensation for individuals injured in these accidents. If you were injured or someone you love was killed in a boating accident, call (305) 661-2008 today for your free consultation!
The Miami personal injury lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona handle all types of motor vehicle accidents throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. The Friedland | Carmona handles all types of personal injury cases, including wrongful death, defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls and construction site injuries. Call the Miami personal injury attorneys at (305) 661-2008 for your free consultation. Call today and let our family take care of your family!