Patapsco Collision Kills Two, Injures Six

Maryland Natural Resources Police

NRP is investigating a double-fatal boating accident that occurred about 3 a.m. on the Patapsco River just south of Key Bridge.

A 37-foot recreational boat with eight people on board hit a large cement abutment (called a dolphin), one of four that stand about 50 yards from the bridge at the edges of the shipping channel to guard the span from boat strikes.

Two women were thrown from the boat and died. Both bodies were recovered, one at about 8:20 a.m and the other shortly after 1 p.m.

Both victims were taken to the state Medical Examiner's office in Baltimore for autopsies. The injured were treated at Baltimore hospitals.

The rescue and recovery effort was handled by NRP, Baltimore County Police and Fire, Baltimore City Fire, Anne Arundel County Fire, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland State Police.

The two deaths are the 13th and 14th boating fatalities in Maryland this year. There were 12 all last year in the state.

There are no excuses for hitting a large object at night. It is the captain/operator's responsibility to keep a watch.