The captain of a 35-foot boat that burst into flames off the Bronx shoreline leaving more than two dozen people injured, has been charged with drunk driving. According to the New York Post, which examined a complaint filed in Bronx Criminal Court, 33-year-old Joshua Brito told police he “had one beer.” The boat fire, which occurred the night of June 14 reportedly left two dozen passengers injured.
Ongoing Investigation
Police who arrived at the scene found Brito with watery eyes and the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage in his breath, according to the criminal complaint. He allegedly admitted to police that he had an issue with the boat just a few days earlier after which he said he disconnected the boat’s generator. Brito pleaded not guilty to three counts of operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Several boats were tied up near the boat when it exploded, leaving 23 people injured, including a 46-year-old man who was in the intensive care unit, The Post reported. The passengers swam to Hart Island and were later transported to City Island by the U.S. Coast Guard. Police said Brito’s blood alcohol level was at .05 when he was tested, which is above the .04 threshold for operating a boat. The cause of the boat fire is under investigation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the injured victims. We wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Operating a Boat While Impaired
Operating a boat under the influence in New York is both illegal and dangerous, with stringent penalties for violators. The state’s boating laws prohibit operating a fully or partially-motorized vessel while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Recreational boaters are considered to be impaired if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. The threshold is more severe for commercial boaters – 0.04%.
Alcohol continues to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. In 2023, alcohol was cited as the primary cause in 17% of recreational boating deaths, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. This means that while not the sole cause of every accident, alcohol use is a significant factor in many fatal incidents on the water.
Even small quantities of alcohol or drugs can have a significant impact on a boater’s ability to operate the craft effectively. These substances can affect a boat operator’s judgement, coordination and ability to accurately perceive speed and distance. They can make it difficult to concentrate and result in slower reaction times, putting both the operator and their passengers in grave danger.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boat accident or motor vehicle accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://nypost.com/2025/06/09/us-news/skipper-of-nyc-boat-that-burst-into-flames-hit-with-drunken-driving-charges/