LI Man Indicted After Boating While Intoxicated With Small Children Aboard, Crashing Vessel: DA

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A Mastic Beach man was indicted Wednesday after boating while intoxicated with young children aboard, and crashing the vessel in Hampton Bays in May, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Edward Hillkewicz, 28, of Mastic Beach, was indicted on charges including second-degree assault and operating a vessel while intoxicated with a child less than 15, after reportedly navigating a 33-foot vessel in the Shinncock Canal in Hampton Bays while under the influence of alcohol, crashing it into a jetty and grounding it inside Meschutt Park, the DA said.

According to the investigation, on May 25 at about 8:40 p.m., Hillkewicz was navigating a 33-foot boat on Peconic Bay, heading back to Hampton Bays after consuming alcohol earlier that day in Greenport, the DA said.

While reportedly navigating the boat at a high rate of speed, he crashed into a jetty in front of Meschutt Park, Tierney said. The impact of the crash caused the vessel to catapult into the Shinnecock Canal wall and then ricochet; the boat then slammed into a different part of the jetty and grounded on the sand in Meschutt Park, the DA said.

Passengers on the boat at the time of the crash included Hillkewicz’s fiancé, two other adult passengers, and two young children, ages 2 and 6, Tierney said.

Southampton Town Police responded to the scene and placed Hillkewicz under arrest, the DA said.

Hillkewicz’s fiancé was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she had two surgeries on her spine before being transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation and continued medical treatment; currently, she has limited movement from the waist down, the DA said.

The two adults and two children also on board were not seriously injured, Tierney said.

On Wednesday, Hillkewicz was arraigned on the indictment before County Court Judge James A. McDonaugh for charges including one count of second-degree assault, a Class D felony; one count of second-degree vehicular assault, a Class E felony; two counts of operating a vessel while intoxicated with a passenger less than 15 years old, Class E felonies; two counts of operating a vessel while intoxicated, unclassified misdemeanors; two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, Class A misdemeanors; one count of reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of reckless operation of a vessel, a Class A misdemeanor, Tierney said.

Judge McDonaugh ordered Hillkewicz placed on supervised release and suspended his vessel license during the pendency of the case, the DA said.

Hillkewicz is due back in court on September 4, and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count, the DA said. He is being represented by Robert Schalk, who was not immediately available for comment.

For maritime emergencies or to report suspicious activity, use VHF Channel 16 or call the Sector Long Island Sound Command Center at 866-299-8031.

"As this case demonstrates, boating while intoxicated is every bit as dangerous as driving while intoxicated, and is the leading factor in fatal boating accidents," said Tierney. "My office will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to enforce maritime laws and prosecute violators."