Crime & Safety
Investigators ID Occupants In Prudence Island Boat Accident
Six of the boaters were from Barrington, one was from East Providence.
Written by Elizabeth McNamara
Investigators released the names of the people on the boat that ran aground off Prudence Island Saturday night, but are still investigating what caused the crash, which sent six of the seven occupants to area hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The occupants were Melissa Berkoff, 22; Kirby Dwyer, 24; Tyler Green, 24; Kurt Grusmark, 23; Jessie Ott, 22; and William Wall, 23, all of Barrington; and Joanna Ricci, 23, of East Providence.
The state Department of Environmental Managament has custody of vessel and is conducting an accident reconstruction, spokeswoman Gail Mastrati said Monday.
The North Kingstown Fire Department's marine unit led the rescue operation. Prudence Island is part of Portsmouth, but NKFD's was the first boat on the scene, so it took the lead.According to the DEM, which is conducting the investigation, the 26-foot Pursuit*, ran aground just south of Sheep Pen Cove, as it tried to navigate the gap between Prudence and Patience islands.
"It is an area where local knowledge is critical," said DEM's Kurt Blanchard Sunday. "It's a route used during the day, not necessarily at night."
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7 Rescued After Boat Runs Aground Off Prudence Island
*The boat size was misreported in earlier articles.
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