1 man found dead, 2 still missing after boat crashes into jetty

OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) - Officials say one man was found dead and two others are missing after a boat crashed into a jetty in Connecticut.

The Coast Guard says a boat carrying nine people crashed into a jetty along the Connecticut River at high speed. The call was received around 9 p.m. Monday, WFSB reports.

Investigators believe the group was returning from a day trip to Block Island and are all local to the Old Saybrook area.

A single motorboat was found, half-submerged, near the Harbor One Marina in Old Saybrook. There was significant damage to the boat.

The boat was pulled from the river late Tuesday morning, and firefighters responded to a fuel leak that was cleaned up.

Six people – a man and five women, whose ages range from mid-20s to 30s – were rescued. They were all taken to the hospital and later released.

Authorities began searching for three missing men, who were reportedly not wearing life jackets.

One of the missing men was found dead during the search early Tuesday, according to officials with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The search for the two remaining victims, both in their 20s, continued Tuesday. Crews utilized sonar technology in a search effort, with five boats scouring the waters around the crash site.

Authorities are investigating various factors, including currents, tides, wind direction and the boat’s GPS data to determine the boat’s speed and conditions leading up to the crash.

The boat has been towed to the DEEP office in Old Lyme for further analysis.

Guilford’s dive team responded, along with boats, personnel and ambulances from nearby towns, working to locate and assist the missing persons.

The Coast Guard also sent a helicopter from Cape Cod to assist search efforts.