Long Island’s top story today: An accident at a Patchogue boat show resulted in the deaths of two men, Kevin Graff, of Port Washington, and Phil Dejana, of Bayville. Dejana helped run Dejana Industries, a huge trucking, waste management and snow removal company headquartered in Port Washington.
Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan worked as operations manager for Dejana for many years.
From the New York Post story:
A speedboat racing off Long Island at 150 mph flipped over yesterday, killing both people aboard.
The driver lost control of the craft in the Great South Bay off Patchogue, shortly before 5 p.m., witnesses said.
It was taking part in The Battle on the Bay, a daylong series of races.
“It flipped backwards and landed upside down,” said witness Catherine Hogan.
Frank Buckley, who races speedboats, said he saw a spray two miles off shore.
“I knew something was bad down there,” he said. “You don’t get that kind of spray when you’re OK.”
Buckley said there were about 40 boats competing in the race and about 5,000 spectators.
“We were enforcing the security zone around the race and I noticed the water going everywhere,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Clouse, who was patrolling the race course. “One of the race helicopters dropped a diver who was able to get the emergency hatch open and pull the victims out.”
