Man Charged with OUI After Woman Loses Her Arm in Boat Mishap

A local man was charged with operating under the influence last night after a woman lost her arm after falling overboard from a boat he was driving, according to WHDH-TV.

Benjamin Urbelis, 33, of Charlestown, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence.

According to alerts, at just before 8 p.m. on May 30, 2015, Marine Unit 1 of the Boston Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard were sent to a boat incident on the southwest side of Spectacle Island where a person was injured. A woman with “a serious injury” was transported to Black Falcon Pier. It was later revealed to be “a traumatic amputation injury in the water by Spectacle Island,” according to the Boston Fire Department, due to a propeller strike in the water, according to NeEmergencyNewsWX.

According to his business website, Urbelis is a former student prosecutor with Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and a bartender. He currently works as a criminal defense attorney handling DWI and other cases. Urbelis did not return a text requesting comment about the case. 

The woman was one of 12 or 13 passengers on the boat, according to reports. NECN.com is reporting that five of the boat’s passengers were in the water at the time of the incident. WCVB-TV is reporting that the incident remains under investigation and police wouldn’t comment about whether the way Urbelis’ was operating the boat caused the woman to go overboard. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday.

Read the full story on WHDH.com.

Caption: A stock picture of the Marine 1 Unit operated by Boston Fire.