Three dead after yacht capsizes off Long Island, New York

Three people were pulled out of New York's Long Island Sound overnight
after a yacht capsized on the Fourth of July, and 24 others were
rescued, police said.

Nassau County Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lack said the three bodies were
recovered from the water near Oyster Bay after a long overnight search.

The 24 survivors were pulled from the water around 11 p.m. ET Wednesday,
about an hour after the 34-foot Silverton boat capsized, the U.S. Coast
Guard said. Owners of private boats dragged people into their vessels
until crews from law enforcement agencies and fire departments arrived,
according to local reports.

Lack said some but not all passengers were wearing life jackets. He said
weather may have played a factor or a wake from another vessel may have
caused the boat to capsize.
Advertise | AdChoices

Newsday reported that the 27 people on board were watching the Fourth of
July fireworks.

A boater told Newsday he saw the yacht turn right and then tip over
after it was hit by a wake. "It was like in slow motion," said Sammy
Balasso of Oyster Bay. "All of a sudden, a lot of bodies were in the water."

His nephew, 15-year-old Frankie Barbone of Bayview, said the waves
almost came up over the yacht.

Balasso said he put the spotlight of his 38-foot speedboard on the
Silverton and then threw all the life jackets he had with him into the
water. He said he rescued 20 people who were later taken to the shore in
police boats.

Nassau County Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lack told Newsday that most of
the people rescued were taken to hospitals for observation but that one
person was in critical condition.

- - -

27 people on a 34-foot boat? Sheesh.