Accidents of the Week - June 27, 2026
BoatTEST publishes “Accidents of the Week” as a public service for our VIP Subscribers to acquaint them with potential boating dangers and by inference their prevention.
12 Boats Destroyed in Yacht Club Fire
6/5/26 – Winthrop, MA
Fire broke out at the Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop, Massachusetts, early on the morning of June 5. Twelve boats at the club were destroyed in the blaze, which shot flames into the sky.
Officials said it was a difficult response as the fire spread quickly due to gasoline on the water from the boats. Firefighters needed to use foam to put it out.
Two boats also broke free, adding to the challenge. No injuries were reported.
Boat Crashes onto Jetty, Operator Charged
6/4/26 – Wickford, RI
Seven people were rescued from a boat that crashed onto a jetty in Rhode Island’s Wickford Harbor in the early hours of June 4.
First responders were called to the scene just after 12 a.m. for a report of a vessel in distress. Fire Chief John Linacre of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, said members of his department brought the passengers of the 42-foot Sea Ray to shore.
Operator Charged After Refusing Impairment Test
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Chief Public Affairs Officer Kim Keough told local news that the vessel’s operator was charged with “refusal to submit to a chemical test related to suspected impairment.”
The operator was hurt in the crash and taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. The six other people aboard the vessel were not injured, according to Keough.
The Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force was activated, with the harbor master and U.S. Coast Guard also responding to the scene. The cause of the crash remained under investigation.
Deputies in Boat Crash After Boaters Skip Day
6/5/26 – Putnam County, FL
Two marine units of the Sheriff’s Office in Putnam County, Florida, were involved in a boat crash while returning from assisting with Boaters Skip Day in Clay County.
All deputies involved were reported to be okay, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), although one deputy was taken to the hospital for a minor cut, according to a spokesperson.
It was unclear how many deputies had been involved in the crash, but no civilians were involved. The marine units were towed back to the dock following the crash, the agency said. The cause of the crash remained unknown.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was handling the investigation.
Boat Crash Leaves One with Life-Threatening Injuries
6/7/26 – Mercer County, KY
EMS crews and the fire department in Mercer County, Kentucky, responded to a boat collision on the night of June 7.
Crews said the boat collided with the dock on Kentucky’s Herrington Lake. One person was reportedly flown to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, while two others were treated but declined transport.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department and Fish and Wildlife were also responders on the scene.
Missing Boaters Found Safe, Police Say
6/9/26 - New Smyrna, FL
Two boaters reported missing since early morning on June 8 were found safe and sound by first responders.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) located the pair via aircraft approximately 25 miles off the coast of Ormond Beach. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department confirmed the update, stating an FWC plane had spotted the boat and that both boaters were in good health.
The search had been underway since the two individuals were last seen and heard from at approximately 6 a.m. the previous day, after departing from Lake Helen.
Their vehicle and boat trailer had been discovered at the Swoop Boat Ramp in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Boaters Rescued After Boat Capsizes in Chesapeake Bay
6/6/26 - Virginia Beach, VA
Boaters were rescued after their vessel capsized in the Chesapeake Bay on the morning of June 6, according to the Virginia Beach EMS Marine Rescue Team.
At around 9:20 a.m., the Coast Guard received a distress call for a capsized vessel in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay.
The team’s crews were dispatched to help Hampton Fire and the Coast Guard make sure that everyone was safely rescued and the boat wouldn’t be an issue to others at sea.
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