1 dead, teen missing and 2 injured after wave hits boat in Chincoteague Bay
One man died and a teenager is missing after a wave hit their boat and capsized it Saturday morning in the Chincoteague Bay, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission said in a release.
It happened around 9:22 a.m. near Curtis Merritt Harbor at the southern end of the island. Someone called Virginia Marine Police about the 16-foot John boat, which had four people on it. A wave hit the boat, and all four people went into the water.
Marine police said the people on the boat were two 17-year-olds, a 19-year-old and 18-year-old Corey Alles of Bentonville, which is near Front Royal.
A good Samaritan rescued two of the people near the boat, while the Coast Guard recovered the body of Alles. The 19-year-old man and one of the 17-year-olds were taken to the hospital with injuries considered not life-threatening.
A 17-year-old boy is still missing and marine police will continue their search for him in the morning, the release said. The Coast Guard, Virginia Marine Police, Virginia State Police, Maryland State Police and the Chincoteague Police Department are all helping with the investigation.
All families and next-of-kin have been notified.
“The Virginia Marine Police and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission offers its deepest condolences to the families during this time,” the release said.
Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com
