Boats Crash Head-On Off Coast Of Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Portsmouth firefighters rescued people on two boats, after the vessels collided in a head-on crash Sunday night.

Fire officials said the crashed happened around 6:30 p.m., off the coast of Potters Cove, Prudence Island. At the time, rescue crews knew at least three people were injured, but wasn't sure of the condition of the boats or the total number of people onboard.

Portsmouth fire's marine unit responded, as did the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force, which sent units from Warwick, Bristol, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the U.S. Coast Guard, Warren, Cranston Providence and North Kingstown.

Fire officials said the first arriving rescue crew searched Potters Cove, with no boats in distress found. Portsmouth fire was then able to contact one of the boats involved by phone and got them to use a flare to signal to the search teams.

Warwick Marine 7 was the first to see the signal flare and locate the vessels off Providence Point, Prudence Island. Once response units were on scene, seven passengers were evaluated, with one medical refusal.

All units were cleared, and a private salvage company remained on scene with the boats involved.