A collision between two boats on the Susquehanna River Monday evening claimed one man’s life and injured a second person.
Around 7:30 p.m., Maryland Natural Resources Police(NRP) say a 17-foot jon boat with two people on board and a 29-foot center console go-fast boat carrying just the driver collided head on near the Amtrak Susquehanna River Bridge. The bridge, owned by the rail company, carries Northeast Corridor trains between Havre de Grace and Perryville, Maryland.
When the two collided, Susquehanna Hose Company (SHCO)’s emergency response boat, Marine 5, was called and made it on scene within 10 minutes. Charlestown Fire Company responded with their rescue boat, too. SHCOs says an adult male in the jon boat suffered serious head injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The second person in that vessel was taken ashore to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to SHCO Chief Scott Hurst. The person operating the center console had no injuries.
Maryland Natural Resources Police are investigating the incident. Police tell us that both vessels were seized and trailered to NRP Matapeake facility for temporary storage and reconstruction.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
