On the evening of May 31, the serenity of Martha's Vineyard was disrupted when a boat ran aground on the shores of Chappaquiddick Island. State Police-Oak Bluffs Barracks' Trooper Zachary Bolcome, in a statement obtained by MSP News, responded to the dispatch call at approximately 9:40 PM and discovered the grounded 43-foot Hinckley Sport Boat 40C.
Upon his arrival, Trooper Bolcome, along with Edgartown officers, engaged with two men stranded on the vessel. Having assessed the scene, the operator, identified as 32-year-old Riley Blizzard of Cotuit, appeared to be impaired. As explained by MSP News, the men on the boat attributed the incident to "a navigational error" made prior to the crash.
Trooper Bolcome conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) on the operator at Chappaquiddick Road. Subsequently, based on the tests' outcome, Blizzard was arrested and charged with operating a boat under the influence of liquor, and negligent operation of a boat. He was booked at Dukes County Jail and was scheduled for arraignment at Edgartown District Court.
The incident has highlighted the dangers of boating while impaired, an issue that has seen renewed focus in coastal communities. Both charges levied against Blizzard carry significant implications, indicative of the seriousness with which such violations are treated. Details from the court proceedings have yet to emerge, however, it is anticipated that the arraignment will provide further clarity on the consequences faced by Blizzard.
