
A New York man was charged with vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault after a boat he was operating crashed into a barge on the Hudson River near the Tappan Zee Bridge, killing two members of a wedding that had been scheduled for August 10.
Officials told the local ABC affiliate that the body of a man believed to be the best man, Mark Lennon, was discovered Sunday. A body believed to be that of bride-to-be Lindsey Stewart was found Saturday.
Six friends were on board when the boat struck a barge near the bridge Friday night, sending Stewart and Lennon, both 30, into the water and injuring the other four people, including groom-to-be Brian Bond.
Authorities charged the boat’s operator, Jojo John, 35, of Nyack, with vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault. He was arraigned from a hospital bed and ordered held on $250,000 bond. John is suspected of operating the boat while intoxicated, but authorities are awaiting the result of blood tests.
The boat, a 21-foot Stingray, had left the New York village of Piermont for a short trip across the river to Tarrytown.
Some boaters are questioning whether there was enough lighting. WABC-TV spoke with two people who were on the water Friday, and they say the only reason they knew the barge was there was because it showed up on their radar.
The barge was carrying materials for the construction of a replacement for the bridge. The New York State Thruway Authority, which is overseeing the bridge project, said it was reviewing safety procedures.
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Originally posted on Trade Only.