Relative blames dim barge lights for NY boat crash

PIERMONT, N.Y. (AP) ? The stepfather of a bride-to-be killed in a boating accident on the Hudson River said no one aboard saw the construction barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge before crashing into it.

Walter Kosik said he spoke to his daughter's fiance, Brian Bond, who told him all six people on the powerboat had their eyes on the river, but no one saw the barge's dim lights.

"What we want to talk about is the lighting on the barges," Kosik told The Journal News (http://lohud.us/1ckOoOe). "You've got two anchor lights, one on each side of the barge. With the glare off the bridge, you can't see it."

He continued: "It's just amazing that, the following day, (Gov. Andrew) Cuomo put lights on those barges, lighting it up like a Christmas tree 24 hours from when they got killed."

The New York State Thruway Authority has said that the barge lighting appeared to be functioning normally, but it remained part of the investigation.

The extra lights were added "because we wanted to go above and beyond to try and prevent something like this from happening again," spokesman Dan Weiler said.

Bond was to marry Lindsey Stewart on Aug. 10; his best man, Mark Lennon, also died. Both were 30. Bond and the three other people were injured.

Bond told Kosik that they all had about one alcoholic beverage each before Friday's crash. Boat operator Jojo John had a few drinks, Kosik said, adding, "If he was that drunk, they would not have gotten onto the boat."

John was charged with vehicular homicide in Stewart's death. He hasn't been charged in connection with Lennon's death. His lawyer called the crash "a tragedy for all of us."

The Journal on Wednesday identified the remaining two survivors as John Schumacher, 44, and Daniel Dilorgi, 28, both of Valley Cottage.

Dilorgi was recovering at home. Schumacher was in surgery Tuesday, according to his lawyer, John Pappalardo.

A funeral service for Stewart was scheduled for Thursday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Pear River, where she was to have been wed. Lennon's funeral was set for Friday at St. John the Baptist Church in Piermont.

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Information from: The Journal News, http://www.lohud.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/relative-blames-dim-barge-lights-ny-boat-crash-135605817.html

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