LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: A peculiar boat collision occurred on Long Island's Great South Bay, resulting in a tragic fatality. The deceased individual has been identified as Phillip Sanzano.
The incident took place on August 10, when a 30-foot Wellcraft center-console boat abruptly careened out of the waters and crashed into a residence on West Fire Island.
Who was Phillip Sanzano?
Phillip Sanzano, aged 47, hailing from Bellport, Long Island. Sources have revealed that Sanzano was a dedicated officer from the 83rd Precinct in Bushwick, Brooklyn, boasting an impressive 18-year tenure in the NYPD, complemented by prior service in the US military.
Christopher Cannella, also 47, was the other occupant of the ill-fated boat. He made a distress call to 911, recounting that both he and Sanzano had been present on the boat when it unexpectedly grounded and catapulted into the dwelling before settling upside down.
The impact, which occurred around 7:35 a.m., left the vessel wedged onto the deck of the house in an inverted position. The person responsible for operating the boat during the incident has not been definitively determined as of now.
Tragically, Sanzano's life was claimed by the incident, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Expressing empathy for the affected families, John Scherger, a nearby resident and neighbor, shared, "I feel for the families".
Not much harm was caused to other occupant, Cannella
Christopher Cannella, a resident of West Babylon, was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore by authorities following the incident. Fortunately, Cannella sustained injuries that were deemed non-life-threatening, according to police reports.
The sequence of events unfolded as the two men embarked on an early-morning fishing trip, setting off before dawn on August 10. However, the precise departure point from which they set sail remains unclear.
Eyewitness accounts from the Islip Fire Department suggest that the boat appeared to be traveling at a notably high speed just moments before the collision transpired.
Law enforcement officials have surmised that the boat must have achieved a significant velocity for it to become airborne and ultimately land in the manner that it did, lodged into the property.
Remarkably, the house impacted by the boat crash was unoccupied at the time of the incident, averting potential harm to its occupants.
Investigation into the incident falls under the purview of the Suffolk County Police Third Squad's detectives, who are diligently working to unravel the circumstances surrounding this peculiar occurrence.
