The captain of a 35-foot yacht that exploded off the Bronx shoreline, injuring 23 people, has been arrested for operating the vessel while intoxicated.Joshua Brito, 33, is facing charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment after the incident near Hart Island around 9 p.m. on Saturday, according to the NYPD.Authorities said the explosion aboard the Carver 35 yacht forced passengers to leap into the water to escape the flames. Most swam to nearby Hart Island, a 131-acre landmass off the Bronx coast.
Of the 23 people on board, 22 sustained minor injuries, while one 46-year-old man suffered more serious injuries and remains in intensive care.The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the emergency and rescued the stranded passengers, transporting them to City Island. Fourteen were taken to Jacobi Medical Center, while nine others were treated at Montefiore Einstein Hospital.
The passengers, ranging in age from 17 to 58, were part of a group on multiple boats tied together when a blast occurred, engulfing one of the vessels in flames.Photos from the scene showed emergency crews aiding the injured and the charred remains of the destroyed yacht.The Carver 35 is typically rated to safely carry between 8 to 15 passengers, according to manufacturer listings. The boat was reportedly overloaded at the time of the explosion.Brito is currently in custody and awaiting arraignment at Bronx Criminal Court. The post
Captain arrested after Boat explosion forces 23 Passengers to swim for their lives appeared first on
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