Two men died and a woman was seriously injured when two boats collided on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee on Saturday evening.
The identities of the victims were not released until families were identified, but the New Hampshire marine patrol said the victims all lived on Bear Island on the lake.
First responders were called to the north side of the island a little after 6 p.m. on Saturday for a reported boating accident, according to the Union Leader newspaper. When they arrived at the scene, officials found a 2011 Sea Ray Sport bowrider adrift just north of the Bear Island Post Office.
Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Dispatch radioed first responders that the male victim was receiving cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. He was later declared dead at the scene by a medical examiner.
The female passage had called 911 and sustained a serious head injury. She was taken to the Meredith, N.H., town docks where an ambulance transported her to Lakes Region General Hospital. She was later transported to another medical facility.
New Hampshire Marine Patrol Capt. Timothy Dunleavy said the woman told authorities that the boat had struck bottom, but officials said the damage to the Sea Ray was not consistent with having run aground. While investigating the accident’s cause, the marine patrol received a report of a missing boater on Bear Island. Using sonar and other equipment, divers from New Hampshire Fish & Game found a sunken Penn Yan boat with a dead man on board in 48 feet of water.
Officials believe that the boats collided with each other while underway, but Dunleavy said the investigation is ongoing.
Bear Island is the second largest island on the lake. It is accessible only by boat and is home to about 200 residents.
