Police

Cops: Speed boat passengers ejected after hitting wake

Passegers of this cigarette boat (left) were ejected into Greenport Harbor on Monday. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo)
Passengers of this cigarette boat (left) were ejected into Greenport Harbor on Monday. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo)

Six people ejected out of a speed boat after hitting a wake were rescued from Greenport Harbor on Monday, Southold Town police at the scene said.

The passengers were traveling from Connecticut in a 37-foot high-speed vessel known as a “cigarette boat” and heading to Claudio’s restaurant at around 5 p.m., police said.

The driver, Christopher Shakir, 27, of Herbon, Conn., was traveling at “full throttle” when his boat hit a wake and all the passengers were ejected from the vessel, police said.

Police said the other passengers were: Justin Shakir, 31, and Derek Chokas, 32, both of Manchester, Conn.; Clint Shakir, 28, of Chaplin, Conn.; Christopher Ginelewicz, 45, of Newington, Conn.; Michael Massi, 45, of Southington, Conn.

They were rescued by Shelter Island native and U.S. Coast Guardsman Patrick O’Halloran, 27, who was off duty and traveling nearby on a private vessel when the accident happened just south of the ferry terminal, according to a U.S. Coast Guard press release.

“I’ve been in the Coast Guard for three years and it was unreal watching this happen in front of me,” Petty Officer Third Class O’Halloran said in a statement. “I realized I needed to make sure they were safe and that the boat was away. Once I saw they were okay, I made my approach and pulled them out of the water.”

A Sea Tow captain jumped onto to their unmanned boat, which had been traveling in circles after the accident, to retrieve the vessel, officials said.

One passenger suffered rib injuries and each passenger showed symptoms of hypothermia, police said.

“The subjects were treated at the dock and released by the Greenport Fire Department,” police said in a press release.

No other injuries were reported and the boat wasn’t damaged, police said.

Southold Town and Shelter Island bay constables also assisted in the rescue efforts, police said.

[email protected]