By: Licec Bastian

A boating accident near Grand Bahama on Sunday afternoon resulted in 16 persons,
including three toddlers being injured and taken to hospital.
Police initially reported that 14 out of the 21 persons on board the vessel, were being
treated at the Rand Memorial Hospital; however, the Public Hospitals Authority
(PHA) advised in a statement following the incident that the Grand Bahama Health
Services (GBHS) responded to the accident; and identified 16 individuals as injured.
According to police, shortly before 1:00 p.m. on a 36ft vessel left Fortune Bay Drive,
enroute to Grand Cay, Abaco when the vessel collided into a sand bank, a half mile
north of the Freeport Dock.
Several passengers were reportedly ejected from the vessel and subsequently retrieved
from the water.
The passengers, who are all Bahamians, were assisted by another vessel and returned
to Grand Bahama.
This boating accident comes only three weeks after a tourist boat capsized off Rose
Island after it began taking on water on its return to New Providence. Three
individuals had to be taken to hospital for medical attention. Twenty-eight persons
were on board that vessel.
In Sunday’s incident the PHA said five persons were admitted at the RMH.
“Consultant specialists will review these patients and provide updates to relatives”
PHA officials said
Police are questioning the boat captain, a 53year-old male off Grand Cay, Abaco in
connection with this incident.