Current:Home > Contact-us1 person dead after tour boat capsizes inside cave along the Erie Canal-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
1 person dead after tour boat capsizes inside cave along the Erie Canal
View Date:2024-12-23 23:52:12
A tour boat capsized Monday morning in a cave along the Erie Canal in Upstate New York, authorities said. One person died after being trapped beneath the boat for at least an hour.
Fire officials and emergency medical personnel rescued 16 people from the water. Authorities said there were 28 people on board the boat when it capsized before 11:30 a.m. The rest of the passengers were able to emerge safely out of the cave.
The tour was carrying passengers and one staff member from Destination Niagara through a series of caves in a section of the Erie Canal in Lockport, near Niagara Falls at the U.S.-Canadian border.
The capsize happened during a stretch of the underground trip where tourists board a small boat and travel along a 300-foot channel inside the cave, where the water level hovers around five feet deep, although it exceeds six feet in some areas, authorities said at a news conference Monday afternoon.
Authorities said the boat, which can carry as many as 40 people, became unstable and flipped near the end of the channel. The passenger who was killed was about 60 years old, authorities said.
Of the 16 people rescued by crews, 11 were injured and transported to a hospital for treatment. Officials said a broken arm and a possible head injury were recorded, although some passengers could have potentially suffered from hypothermia after being in the water for 15 or 20 minutes. The water temperature at the time was between 55 degrees and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Lockport Police Department originally confirmed the incident in a statement shared to its Facebook page about an hour after it happened.
"Lockport police and fire departments, as well as several other agencies, are currently working to assist parties that were on a boat that capsized in the Lockport Cave Tours," police said in the statement.
Streets in the surrounding area were closed off to give rescue crews easier access to the scene, according to Lockport police. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities said the area where the boat capsized will be considered a crime scene until their probe is complete.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a tweet that authorities with the New York State Police, Division of Homeland Security, State Parks and Health Department were at the scene and assisting local officials in their response.
"My team is in close contact with local officials and emergency operations teams who have responded to a capsized boat along the Erie Canal in Lockport," the tweet read.
CBS affiliate WIVB shared an image to Twitter that appeared to show authorities loading adults, wearing towels, onto stretchers along a roadway near the canal.
As WIVB reported, boat tours have taken place inside the Erie Canal's network of caves since 1977, while the caves themselves were created in the late 19th century. Authorities said Monday that the Lockport Cave Tours have proceeded without incident since they began more than four decades ago.
- In:
- Niagara Falls
- New York
veryGood! (8351)
Related
- Mega Millions winning numbers for November 8 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
- 'Let’s make history:' Unfazed Rangers look to win back-to-back World Series titles | Nightengale's Notebook
- 3 reasons you probably won't get the maximum Social Security benefit
- John Cena argues with Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel over nude bit: 'You wrestle naked, why not?'
- Arkansas governor unveils $102 million plan to update state employee pay plan
- Why Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh's Oscars Dresses Are Stumping Fans
- The 2024 Oscars were worse than bad. They were boring.
- Biggest moments from the 2024 Oscars, from Emma Stone's surprise win to naked John Cena
- Florida education officials report hundreds of books pulled from school libraries
- How soon will the Fed cut interest rates? Inflation report this week could help set timing
Ranking
- Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments
- 'I wish she would've pushed Angel Reese': LSU's Kim Mulkey reacts to women's SEC title fight
- Federal judge in Texas blocks US labor board rule that would make it easier for workers to unionize
- Vanessa Hudgens is pregnant, revealing baby bump at Oscars
- 2025 Medicare Part B premium increase outpaces both Social Security COLA and inflation
- NFL free agency QB rankings 2024: The best available from Kirk Cousins to Joe Flacco
- Ryan Gosling joined by Slash for epic, star-studded 'I'm Just Ken' Oscars performance
- Driver pleads guilty to reduced charge in crash that killed actor Treat Williams
Recommendation
-
Melissa Gilbert recalls 'painful' final moment with 'Little House' co-star Michael Landon
-
Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom Confirm Romance With Vanity Fair Oscar Party Date
-
Driver pleads guilty to reduced charge in crash that killed actor Treat Williams
-
Biden and Trump trade barbs over Laken Riley death, immigration, during dueling campaign rallies in Georgia
-
'Unfortunate error': 'Wicked' dolls with porn site on packaging pulled from Target, Amazon
-
Sean Ono Lennon wishes mom Yoko Ono a happy Mother's Day at the Oscars
-
What stores are open Easter 2024? See details for Target, Walmart, Home Depot, TJ Maxx
-
King Charles III Promises to Serve to the Best of My Ability in Commonwealth Day Address