Hyak Ferry Sinks 27-Foot Sailboat on Salish Sea

A Hyak ferry collided with and sank a 27-foot sailboat on the Salish Sea outside of Washington state on September 13. According to authorities, heavy fog created limited visibility that may have caused the collision.

A man in his mid-60s was on the sailboat at the time of the collision and was rescued by another recreational boater as the ship began to sink. He was taken to Peace Island Hospital on the San Juan islands with injuries.

The sailboat was destroyed in the collision with the 382-foot Hyak ferry and sank to the bottom of the sea. The Hyak can carry up to 2,000 people and 144 vehicles.

Witnesses to the accident told The Inquisitr that it was unlikely the ferry did not see the sailboat, as it was in the middle of the shipping lane. Authorities took the ferry back to Anacortes for inspection and are conducting an investigation into the incident. The ferry captain and crew will submit to drug and alcohol testing during the investigation.

Ferries are huge vessels that can easily damage other recreational boat passengers on the water. Passengers aboard ferries are also subject to injury when collisions occur due to Operator’s negligence or mechanical failures. Serious and sometimes fatal injuries can occur in boating collisions, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns and wrongful death due to drowning. Our  maritime attorneys are dedicated to fighting for victims of ferry accidents. Whether you are a ferry passenger, worker or other boater involved in an accident, our Jones Act attorneys can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. We represent clients nationwide. Contact our  maritime trial lawyers today for a free consultation.

Latti & Anderson’s Little Extra: In 2012, 651 people died in recreational boating accidents in the U.S.

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