Jan. 7, 2008 — The U.S. Coast Guard has completed its investigation into the Jan. 28, 2007, accident between the ferry boat Native Son Express and a 30-foot pleasure boat, but has not decided on the penalty for the ferry boat captain and the pleasure-boat owner.
"The enforcement action is still ongoing," said Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad on Monday.
The maximum penalties are a fine for both the ferryboat captain and the pleasure-boat owner, and the loss of the ferryboat captain's license, he said, adding that he can't identify the ferry boat captain and the boat owner until the penalty phase is complete. Castrodad did not know when that would be.
The accident, which happened off Cruz Bay, St. John, left Patrick Ostheimer, 35, dead. His body was found two days later trapped in the capsized pleasure boat. Ostheimer had been living in Puerto Rico.
Three people were thrown from the pleasure boat in the incident. One person was hospitalized.
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