The Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol Unit responded to the
location of the collision and found eleven (11) people to be in the water
including young children; the ages ranged from three to forty two. Deputy Ken
Ippolito and Deputy Karl Bloom arrived on Marine 2 and were able to safely get
all eleven people out of the water and on board the Sheriff’s boat.
Deputy Chris Smith and Deputy Jim Clark arrived on Marine 1
and located the second boat. The Deputies found both occupants of that vessel
on board and accounted for but injured.
The occupants of both boats were taken to shore at Vitale
Park to be checked by EMS with non-life threatening injuries. The Lakeville
Fire Department, Livonia EMS, and Avon EMS were at Vitale Park to access and
aid the patients.
The preliminary investigation shows that a 2007 Stingray was
anchored in the water after watching fireworks at the north end of the lake.
The boat was occupied by two people; the boats operator 35-year-old Michael G.
Gallton of Rochester and one passenger. As they were anchored in the water, a
2010 Cobalt being operated by 38-year-old Justin S. Marvin also of Rochester,
was traveling south on the lake with 10 other passengers on board.
The preliminary investigation shows that Marvin's boat
struck the other boat causing Gallton to go overboard; Gallton was able to
climb back into his boat from the water. Marvin's boat began to take on water
due to damage sustained from the collision and eventually did sink.
Gallton and his passenger were both transported to Noyes
Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries and an adult
and a minor from Marvin’s boat were transported to Strong Hospital for non-life
threatening injuries.
The Marine Patrol Unit did mark off the area of the sunken
vessel the night of the collision for safety as it was only in eight and half
(8.5) feet of water, causing a potential hazard to other boaters. The markers
remained until this morning when the boat was brought up to the surface. The
boat is currently under tow to the NYS boat launch by a private tow company
with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol.
The investigation is continuing by the Sheriff’s Office
Command Staff, Marine Patrol Unit, Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations
Division and the Forensic Identification Unit, with assistance from the Park
Police based out of Letchworth.
"This collision could have ended much differently but
fortunately all the children were wearing PFD's," stated Sheriff
Dougherty. "I commend the Marine Patrol Deputies for their quick actions
and thank them for their service."
