A Dix Hills man was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when the boat he was operating early Saturday morning collided with another vessel, knocking one man into the Great South Bay, where he was later found dead by a dive team, Suffolk County police said.
Nearly nine hours after the boats collided, Suffolk County police said a member of its dive team recovered the body of a boater who was missing since 4:50 a.m. Saturday.
Authorities identified the missing man as 39-year-old Christopher Mannino of West Islip. He was one of five passengers onboard a 1967 38-foot Hatteras when the tragic collision occurred.
Police said Brian Andreski, 26, was charged with boating while intoxicated after the incident. He and a passenger onboard the 25-foot Skater, were taken to local hospital for treatment.
According to police, the marine bureau received a distress call on the radio regarding a boat crash that occurred under the Robert Moses main span bridge just before 5 a.m.
Officials said the crash occurred halfway between Captree Island and Islip.
When units arrived they found the Skater overturned and Andreski and his passenger in the water.
The Hatteras was also damaged in the collision and was sinking when marine bureau units arrived. The four passengers onboard the Hatteras escaped the crash without any injuries.
Third Squad detectives and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office are investigating the case.
As of Saturday afternoon, Andreski was still in the hospital and was issued a desk appearance ticket for a later date.
The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office will perform an autopsy to determine Mannino’s cause of death.
