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Police: NY boater was drunk during fatal crash

Associated Press - October 22, 2009 6:05 AM ET

NEW YORK (AP) - Police say a Long Island speedboat captain was legally drunk when he plowed into marshland on Oct. 4, killing three.

Nassau County Police Det. Lt. Kevin Smith says George Canni of Copiague (KOH'-payg) had a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent - the minimum threshold for boating while intoxicated.

The accident killed Canni, his wife and a friend. Four others remain hospitalized.

Attorney James Mercante (mur-KAN'-tee), who represents the Cannis' estate, said Wednesday that he hadn't yet seen the findings. Mercante said the accident "may have had nothing to do with alcohol."

Larry Weiss, a spokesman for United States Power Squadrons in New York, said those channels are difficult to navigate. Says Weiss: "Add to that alcohol and darkness, and you have a catastrophe waiting to happen."

Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com

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