A boat carrying members of a wedding party struck a barge in the Hudson River Friday night. The boat's operator was charged with first-degree vehicular manslaughter Saturday. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
By Tracy Jarrett and Alastair Jamieson, NBC News
The pilot of a speedboat that crashed into a barge on the Hudson River while carrying six members of a wedding party, including the bride-to-be, was charged on Saturday with vehicular manslaughter.
Jojo John, 35, was also charged with three counts of vehicular assault over Friday night?s crash, said Rockland County Sheriff William Barbera, according to Reuters.
Read more at NBC New York
"There were signs of intoxication," Barbera added, although lab test results were still pending.
John was in custody at Nyack Hospital Saturday night where his condition was ?critical,? according to hospital spokesperson Lauren Malone.
The best man, identified as Mark Lennon, was still missing after the accident. The search was suspended at 5 pm local time on Saturday and was set to continue on Sunday morning.
One female body was found discovered adrift and without a life jacket not far south of the Tappan Zee Bridge, Rockland County Undersheriff Robert Van Cura told NBCNewYork.com.
Four others remained in the hospital Saturday while investigators continued their search, it reported.
The Coast Guard said six people were on a 21-foot Stingray near Piermont, N.Y., when it hit the barge at around 10:40 p.m. local time on Friday near the bridge.
The accident happened shortly after the boat left Piermont for a short trip across the river to Tarrytown, Rockland County Sheriff's Department Chief William Barbera said at a news conference on Saturday morning, according to the Associated Press.
"While the Rockland County Sheriff, N.Y. State Police and U.S. Coast Guard continue to investigate this tragic incident, the New York State Thruway Authority is conducting its own review of safety procedures on the Hudson River as part of the New NY Bridge Project,? said Brian Conybeare, special advisor to the governor, in a statement.
The bride-to-be, identified by family members as Lindsey Stewart, 30, was to get married on Aug. 10, relatives told NBC New York.
?Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time," Conybeare added.
Groom-to-be Brian Bond, 36, is among the four injured passengers, who were described as suffering severe injuries, including head trauma and broken bones. Bond is in ?fair? condition at Westchester Medical Center, according to spokesman David Billing.
Some of those injured are awake and providing information to investigators. Bond, however, is currently unable to speak due to his injuries, Walter Kosik, the bride?s stepfather told NBC New York.
Police said that while it would have been dark in the area at the time of the crash, the barge was lit up.
"At this point, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC, has reported to the Thruway Authority that all Coast Guard lighting requirements were met and that the barges were properly lit Friday night. All lighting was checked Saturday morning and is fully operational at all barge locations associated with the project,? Conybeare said in the statement.
NBC News? Ali Fateh contributed to this report.
This story was originally published on Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:09 AM EDT
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