A Sag Harbor man was arrested late Saturday night after crashing a boat into a North Haven inlet bulkhead, injuring himself and two passengers.
Southampton Town police said that Gary Lucas was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and at the helm of a vessel that struck the bulkhead and overturned, throwing him and four passengers into the water by Tyndal Point.
Police received a 911 call about the boating accident at 370 Ferry Road, not far from the South Ferry dock, at 11:23 p.m. Police, bay constables, the Sag Harbor Fire Department, and Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Association responded. They found an overturned 2018 39-foot vessel and five people, including Mr. Lucas, in the water.
Mr. Lucas was the most seriously hurt with injuries to his face and leg, police said. Sag Harbor emergency medical personnel treated him and transported him to Havens Beach in Sag Harbor Village where a medevac helicopter met them. He was flown to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Detectives charged Mr. Lucas with operation of a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, also known as boating while intoxicated, a misdemeanor under New York State Navigation Law.
A Sag Harbor ambulance took two of the other passengers to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. The other passengers did not appear to be hurt, police said.
Mr. Lucas will be arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court at a later date. Police said he might face other charges when they conclude their investigation.