PORTLAND, Conn. — One person has died and several others were injured in a boating accident Sunday afternoon just north of Petzold's Marine Center in Portland.
The Portland Fire Department and Mutual Aid Marina units from Middletown along with South District Fire were dispatched to the Connecticut River. 911 calls stated a boating accident occurred with multiple victims, said Portland Fire Department Chief Robert Shea.
Portland Fire Department said Portland Marine 7 arrived at the scene and found multiple victims in the water and on the rocks along the shore near the Portland Fair Grounds. Additional ambulances and paramedics were requested to respond.
Victims along the shore were treated by fire personnel and were removed to transport units at the scene. Dive teams were also activated but were not needed, Chief Shea said.
The 21-foot Yamaha jet boat lost control and crashed into the rocks along the shore, ejecting everyone on board, according to Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police Officers (EnCon).
Everyone that was on the boat has been counted for, according to Shea.
There was a total of eight victims; seven patients were taken to the hospital and one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to EnCon police Captain Keith Williams.
Two of the injured victims are children between the ages of 6 and 12.
The deceased victim has been identified as Wayne Hamler, 60, of Waterford.
The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the U.S. Coast Guard were notified. DEEP is investigating the incident.
There is no sign of foul play or operating under the influence at this time, according to Williams.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the EnCon Police Department at (800) 842-4357 and refer all information to Conservation Enforcement Officer Megan Erickson case number 22-10902.
Jareliz Diaz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jdiaz@fox61.com
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.