Update: Greenwich HS Student Killed in Boating Accident

Written by Barbara Heins

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.

Photo: Greenwich Police Marine Unit. Credit: Barbara Heins.