The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a Tuesday accident that injured a passenger aboard the charter fishing boat Double Header and caused the Lil Mr. B recreational vessel to sink, spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said Friday.
“Why the collision occurred is under investigation,” Castrodad said.
The accident happened about 9:30 p.m. in Pillsbury Sound.
Castrodad said there were two crew members and two passengers on board the Double Header. One passenger suffered a head injury.
“The vessel was able to motor itself to land, where it was met by EMS,” he said, referring to Emergency Medical Service technicians on St. Thomas.
The 40-foot Double Header, which homeports in Red Hook, St. Thomas, had damage to its hull and is now being repaired, Castrodad said.
The 30-foot Lil Mr. B continued toward St. John, but Castrodad said it began sinking north of Steven’s Cay, a small island located west of Cruz Bay. The four passengers were rescued by a good Samaritan, Castrodad said.
The Lil Mr. B sank in 90 feet of water and was raised Thursday by SeaTow vessel towing service.
Castrodad did not know the Lil Mr. B’s homeport.
According to Castrodad, one of the four people on board the Lil Mr. B suffered a facial injury and another passenger suffered bruising.
Castrodad did not have the names of the vessel owners. The person who answered the phone at the Double Header fishing charter telephone number said she had no information on the crash or whether the boat was back in service.
He said the captains of both boats contacted the Coast Guard after the accident occurred.
