The following is a brief account of officer’s reports and passenger’s accounts of a boating accident that occurred in the channel between Patience and Prudence Islands injuring 6 passengers on 8-31-13: 

At approximately 10am (on 8-31-13) seven adults left Barrington River for Block Is.  They spent the day on the island going to various bars drinking beers and mudslides. They discussed staying overnight but there was nowhere to stay so they decided to go back to the mainland. Sometime between 7:30pm and 8pm they left Block Island and headed back towards Barrington.  One of the passengers told Off. that they consumed more beers on the trip back and that Operator was operating the boat. 

Occupant1 (passenger whose father owns the boat) said he was too drunk to drive the boat so he agreed to have passenger Operator operate the boat back.  Occupant1 said he felt that Operator was a more experienced boater then he was.  Occupant1 also told Off. that he was uncomfortable with the speed they were traveling and estimated it to be about 25-30mph. Officers concluded that the boat may have been traveling as high as 40mph at times.  Occupant4 reported that she remembers Operator having difficulty navigating his way back to Barrington and that he wanted to go through the channel between Prudence and Patience Islands. Occupant1 told Operator not to go that way because he was not familiar with the area, it was dark out, and he didn’t want to get lost again. Occupant4 said she remembers Occupant1 being adamant but Operator insisted it would save time.  The next thing Occupant4 remembers was Occupant1 yelling to Operator “No” and then that’s when the crash took place.
PORTSMOUTH