FBI To Help Raise Sunken Yacht Off Oyster Bay
OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The FBI has divers at the vessel that capsized and sank off Oyster Bay, killing three children on the Fourth of July.
The plan is to raise the vessel on Tuesday.
Nassau County police said Monday that they had asked the federal agency to help because of its expertise. The FBI has three vessels and about 20 personnel at the scene.
1010 WINS' Al Jones reports
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"We could have probably put a hook on this boat and towed it up two days ago but in doing that, we might have damaged the boat and it would then be difficult to assess what was the condition of the boat when it went down versus the condition as it came up due to the process of bringing it up," Nassau County Police Chief Steve Skrynecki said a news conference Monday.
Meanwhile, a funeral for 12-year-old David Aureliano was held Monday. Services for the two girls, 8-year-old Victoria Gaines and 11-year-old Harlie Treanor, are set for Tuesday.
"It's devastating to lose a child. There is sorrow and pain but joy in knowing he was such a great kid," Aureliano's cousin, Vito DeFao, told CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff.
The boat's two operators tearfully entered the Northport church for the funeral. Sal Aureliano, who was at the helm of the ill-fated boat, was a pall bearer.
The victims were among 27 people -- 10 children and 17 adults -- onboard a 34-foot Silverton yacht called Candi 1 when it capsized just after 10 p.m July 4 between Center Island and Lloyd's Neck in Cold Spring Harbor Bay, authorities said.
The passengers were on their way back from the privately financed Dolan family fireworks show.
Twenty-four of the passengers from the ship were rescued by other boaters in the area, but the three children were trapped inside the boat's cabin and died.
WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reports
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Skrynecki said officials will be looking into the recommended amount of occupants for the boat versus how many were actually onboard.
"This is an incident that is great concern to everyone, and the examination of that vessel is a significant part of the investigation," Skrynecki told CBS 2's Gusoff.
He refused to discuss the possibility criminal charges in the case.
Investigators believe overcrowding caused the boat to capsize. The family of Gaines believes better education may have saved the children.
"Right now seems like it's the wild wild west on the water," attorney Michael Della told Gusoff.
The Gaines family wants a law in her name -- "Victoria's Law" -- would require licensing of boat owners and continuing education. New York State now only requires a boating safety course and does not license boat operators.
"People have the idea that when you're on the water you can do whatever you want, but the water can be more dangerous than the roadways," Della said.
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