Man Charged In Nassau County Boat Hit-And-Run That Nearly Crushed Woman
ISLAND PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A man was charged Thursday with slamming into another watercraft with his boat and speeding off – nearly crushing a Nassau County mother.
Bennett Ragusa, 59, of Island Park, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving serious physical injury under New York State Navigation Law, according to Nassau County police.
Around 7:15 p.m. this past Sunday 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 told CBS2's Ali Bauman Wednesday.
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.
Scully said his wife is recovering, but has three broken ribs and a fractured spine.
