A tragedy unfolded on the waters of Long Beach Wednesday night when a pleasure boat, carrying 11 people, crashed into the Alamitos Bay jetty, leaving one person dead and 10 hospitalized. According to KTLA, the incident prompted a substantial emergency response, with the Long Beach Fire Department declaring it a mass casualty incident upon arrival just before 9:30 p.m.
The 48-foot craft ran aground on the rocks, then overturned and started taking on water, which led to the frantic rescue operation that unfolded, as seen in aerial footage obtained by Sky5. While the identity of the deceased, described as being between 40-50 years old, has not yet been disclosed, speed has been suspected as a likely factor in the crash, authorities disclosed to KTLA. Following the crash, victims were seen being loaded onto ambulances, bound for local hospitals.
NBC Los Angeles reports that of the 10 hospitalized individuals, seven were in stable condition, while three faced critical injuries. Some passengers were rescued from the water after the boat sank, indicating a severe and urgent rescue scenario. The accident's cause is currently under investigation, though the emphasis on speed as a contributing factor remains consistent across reports.
Further details of the harrowing evening were shared by the Long Beach Fire Department spokesperson, Jake Heflin, who in a statement obtained by CBS News Los Angeles, said that crews responded at 9:21 p.m. to the incident off of Marina Way. Between four and five passengers required rescue from the vessel, while the remainder were rescued from the jetty itself.
