Update: Greenwich HS Student Killed in Boating Accident

Update: 8:20 p.m.

Greenwich Police released this statement at 8:12 p.m. Aug. 6:

This afternoon four local Greenwich girls were boating on the Long Island Sound off Greenwich Point Park. The girls, who are all 16 yoa, were operating a privately owned recreational boat powered by an outboard motor. The girls had been “tubing” which is when one or more tube riders tether their tubes to a motor boat. The riders are then towed through the water by the boat. This afternoon, for a yet to be determined reason, the two girls who had been tubing were in the water and came into contact with the propeller of outboard engine. The first girl was transported to the Stamford Hospital for a soft tissue injury to her leg which required extensive stitching. The second girl sustained a fatal wound and died at the scene.

The immediate families of all the involved teens have been notified. The name of the deceased will not be released at this time allowing them to make notifications to their extended family. The name of the victim should be released officially no later than noon on August 7, 2014 by the Greenwich Police Department PIO.

The primary investigator on scene personal assessment of the incident is; this is a tragic accident. The incident will continue to be investigated by the Greenwich Police Department Marine Section in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Questions regarding the boat accident should be directed to the DEEP Public Information Officer. Questions regarding the deceased should be directed to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).

Our thoughts and prayers go the victim, her family, and her friends.

Update: 7:36 p.m.:

Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent William McKersie has released this statement Wednesday night following the boating accident that killed a Greenwich High School student.

“This evening, we are mourning the devastating loss of one of our Greenwich High School students, a rising junior, who was involved in a boating accident today on the Long Island Sound. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time of tragedy. There are few words that can express the deep compassion we feel for the family of the young girl that has died and for the three other girls involved in the accident. The Greenwich Public School community is ready to support the girls involved and their families in every way possible.

The names of the girls are being withheld pending notification of family members. Although school is not in session, we will make counselors available for the school communities at the appropriate time.”

Update 6:34 p.m.

Tubing on Long Island Sound on a sunny Wednesday afternoon ended in tragedy when a 16-year-old Greenwich teen was run over by the boat that was pulling the tube.

According to Greenwich Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray, “This afternoon there was a tragic accident on Long Island Sound off Tod’s Point and one of the islands. There were four girls operating a privately-owned boat.” The accident happened shortly after 2 p.m., Gray said.

Gray said, “They were out tubing and the girls became entangled in the propellers. The four girls are teenagers, approximately 16-years of age. They were out on the water out enjoying the day, what maneuvers they were doing, I don’t know.”

One teen suffered a severe “soft tissue injury to her leg that required extensive stitching. She’s at the Stamford Hospital ER,” Gray said.

Gray said the other victim suffered “a fatal wound and died at the scene.”

Gray added, “There was no rescue … she was found and brought back to shore.” He declined to elaborate.

Gray said the identity of the victim has not be released. ”The family has been notified. We are waiting for extensive family notification,” Gray said.

All four girls aboard the boat are Greenwich High School students, Gray said. He could not say what type of boat the girls were operating. “It was not a yacht and it was not a Boston Whaler — that information will come out in the actual accident investigation.” He also would not comment on whether the operator of the boat was licensed.

“The preliminary investigation show it was nothing more than a tragic accident. All of the facts and circumstances are under investiagation and it would be premature to comment (further),” Gray said.

The accident is being investigated by the Greenwich Police Department and officers of the Connecticut Department of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Gray said. The DEEP is investigating because they have jurisdiction over accidents on the water, Gray said.

Update: 4:50 p.m.

A 16-year-old girl was killed another girl was seriously injured after being struck by a boat while tubing near the Old Greenwich Yacht Club on Wednesday afternoon, according to reports.

Two girls were being towed behind a boat when the boat stopped short and Greenwich Police said the tow rope for the tubes got caught in boat propeller, according to WFSB.

Original story: 3:43 p.m., Aug. 6

Greenwich Police and Greenwich Emergency Medical Service are at the scene of a serious boating accident near the Old Greenwich Yacht Club at Greenwich Point.

Initial reports were that two people were run over by a boat and severely injured around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. Greenwich Police have not released details of the incident.

Greenwich Patch will update the story as details become available.

Photo: Greenwich Police Marine Unit with the boat involved in the accident at the Old Greenwich Yacht Club. Credit: Greenwich Police.