Speeding Cigarette Boat Nearly Crushes Nassau County Mother

ISLAND PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Nassau County mother was nearly crushed by a boat on her way back from a day on the water with her family.

Now, police are searching for the captain who took off.

As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, on a peaceful Sunday evening on Reynolds Channel off Island Park, fisherman Matthew Scully was navigating his boat back home. His wife, 13-year-old daughter, and a friend were on board. The family was taking in the view.

"What turned us was the bang," Scully recalled.

It was a 30-foot cobalt blue cigarette boat that Scully said was speeding through a 5 mph zone. He said it slammed into them, flew over the motor, smashed the windshield glass, and knocked his wife unconscious.

"This 30-foot monster on an 18-foot center console landed on top of us, on top of people and sped off, forget the boat," Scully said.

Scully said he made eye contact with the mysterious boater before he hit the gas and sped toward Oceanside.

"No expression, I kind of put my hands up and said, 'really, you're leaving," Scully said.

Scully's wife Joanne was sitting in a chair when the boat came from behind. She fell to the floor, but said she could have been crushed.

Nassau County Police have been looking for the boat and its driver -- described as a white male between 50 and 60 years old, very tan, with a goatee.

"All of our police officers in that precinct and South Shore areas are looking at marinas, high dry locations, all waterways," Nassau County police Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun said.

Scully is searching too, but for his family the water will never be the same.

Scully said his wife is recovering, but has three broken ribs and a fractured spine.