BWI for Boater Who Smashed into Seawall on the Hudson River

Westchester County Police charged a Croton-on-Hudson man with Boating While Intoxicated after he crashed an 18-foot Stingray into a wooden sea wall on the Hudson River and had to be extricated from the damaged vessel.

The incident occurred about 5:40 p.m. Sunday near the Viking Marina in Verplanck. According to witnesses, the Stingray was being operated at excessive speed and narrowly missed striking several other boats before it struck the sea wall. The force of the impact crumpled the bow of the boat and the operator became trapped under the helm.

Marine Unit Officers Joseph Kraus and Isai Moreira, who were patrolling the Hudson, responded to the scene and rendered first aid to the operator. The county police Emergency Service Unit also responded and ESU officers assisted the Marine Unit in using saws to cut through metal to free the man.

The operator, later identified as Rogerio Jost, 56, of Truesdale Drive, was placed on a back board and taken to shore by county police. He was further aided there by Cortlandt Regional Paramedics and Verplanck Fire Department ambulance personnel. He was taken by ambulance to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he was admitted.

Jost was issued a desk appearance ticket at the hospital charging him with Boating While Intoxicated, a misdemeanor. He was also issued Navigation Law summonses for Reckless Operation and Operating a Vessel above 5 mph within 100 feet of the shoreline.

Jost is due to answer the charges in Cortlandt Town Court on June 9.

Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth noted that the Marine Unit is conducting a BWI enforcement detail on the Hudson today with the U.S. Coast Guard