A couple was killed on Sunday, September 3, at Great South Bay, on Long Island, in a boat collision.
Louis Deritis, 53, and his wife Renee Deritis, 50, from Oakdale, were aboard their 27-foot 1989 OC/MA boat when the accident occurred.
Louis was steering the boat when it collided with a larger 44-foot 1989 Henriques Sport Fisherman boat at about 10:40 pm as reported by Suffolk County Police.
Following the collision, the couple’s boat capsized north of Ocean Bay Park, between North Channel and Range Channel. In the aftermath, Louis was ejected from the boat and was not immediately located by rescuers.
Divers from the Islip Fire Department later discovered Renee inside the hull of the submerged boat. She was transferred to the divers’ vessel, where she was pronounced dead. By the following Monday morning, September 4, authorities located and recovered Louis’ body.
The operator of the Henriques Sport Fisherman boat, Ferdinand Caravousanos, 61, of West Babylon, and his passengers were reported safe and without injuries.
Authorities are treating the incident as an accident and not a criminal offense. However, both the vessels were impounded pending safety checks.