4 Dive Overboard Before Head-On Boat Crash: Cops

(Editor's note: one name was removed from this article as the individual provided Patch documentation clearing them of charges.)

MATTITUCK, NY — In a dramatic boating incident, four people dove overboard as they saw a vessel heading directly at them in the Great Peconic Bay Friday, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, the incident took place off Deep Hole Creek in Mattituck at 3:41 p.m.

A Brookville man, 24, along with a 23-year old Newburgh woman, an Islip Terrace woman, 24, and a 24-year old Bellmore man were "hanging out" on the center console of their vessel when they saw a "larger boat headed straight for them," police said.

Realizing the larger boat was going to hit them, the four dove overboard, police said.

The larger boat, a 29' Hinkley, operated by (removed), struck the vessel, ran up the stern and damaged the windshield and Bimini top, police said. The operator said he didn't see the smaller boat because his bow was up too high, police said. There were two New York City men, 47 and 79, on his boat, as well as a 48-year old Chicago man, police said.

The four who jumped overboard were rescued out of the water safely and did not sustain injuries, police said.

(removed) was charged with reckless operation, a misdemeanor, and various infractions, and charged on a summons to appear later, police said.

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