Branford Woman Seriously Injured in Boating Accident

A Branford resident has been critically injured in a early Tuesday morning boating accident, the Fire Department reports.

At 12:09 a.m. the Branford Fire and Police Departments responded to a report of a boating accident involving injured people, said Acting Assistant Fire Chief Ronald R. Mullen.

Mutual aid was also provided by the East Haven Fire Department who also responded because the accident was located in close proximity to the Branford/East Haven town border.

Ultimately the scene of the accident was determined to be in Branford, in an area between Payne’s Point and Kelsey Island near the Farm River, Mullen said.

Emergency personnel arrived at the location and found a female, who was believed to be the passenger in the boat, with what Acting Deputy Fire Chief Tim Judd described as “severe traumatic injuries to her left arm, face and back.”

She was immediately transport to Yale New Haven Hospital and is currently in critical condition.
A male party, believed to be the operator of the boat was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.

A preliminary investigation into the accident indicated that fact that a rope line attached to the stern of the boat, may have fallen into the water and ultimately became entangled in the propeller of the hand controlled outboard motor, the Fire Department said.

The boat was traveling at a normal operating speed. The stern rope line may have also been entangled with the hand control of the outboard motor.

This entanglement could have caused the steering of the boat to suddenly change direction, which may have caused the female to be ejected from the boat, Mullen said. Her injuries were sustained after she was struck by the boat after being ejected.

The accident is being investigated by the Branford Police Department, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the United States Coast Guard.