Captain Charged With DWI After New York Boat Fire Injures 20+

NEW YORK CITY, NY — The captain of a boat that caught fire and injured nearly two dozen people in New York this weekend was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Joshua Brito, 33, was arrested for reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated after the boat caught fire Saturday night, an NYPD spokesperson told Patch.

Personnel aboard FDNY Marine 4, conducting a routine patrol near the east end of Hart Island just after 8 p.m., spotted the boat on fire and rushed to the scene, where firefighters “grabbed three people out of the water,” FDNY Assistant Chief Michael Meyers said.

The victims were taken to a nearby dock where Engine 70 and EMS crews began CPR, while the other 19 passengers swam to Hart Island, Meyers added.

At least 22 people were injured in the boat fire, with one hospitalized in critical condition, officials said. All the injured were adults, ranging in age from 18 to 58, police added.

Officials said Monday morning that the Coast Guard is investigating the incident, while the cause of the blaze remains under review.

"This just goes to show you what a coordinated effort happens between our marine units, our land units, and our EMS units to get here to help save lives, by responding in here, by communicating well, and by working with our City partners to help ensure that we protect the people of the City of New York," Meyers said.