Crime & Safety

Alcohol, Inexperience Leads to Serious Westport Boating Injury

The victim of the accident remains hospitalized after suffering from leg injuries due to a drunk driver's poor judgment and inability to safely operate the boat.

 

A group of friends were enjoying themselves in the waters nearby Compo Beach Saturday and the day ended with at the helm of a boat.

When the driver put the vessel in reverse the boat propeller ran the 21-year-old victim over and severely cut his legs, police said. The operator, 21-year-old Cyrus Hussein Fardoust, of Rockville, Maryland, a college classmate of the victim, was charged with reckless operation of a vessel while under the influence. He was driving a 26-foot Sea Ray Sun Deck registered to a Westport address, according to police.

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“I think what we have to take into consideration here is operating under the influence is not an option,” said Captain Sam Arciola. “You have to have a designated driver.”

Westport Emergency personnel responded to the Ned Dimes Marina at Compo Beach at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday and the victim was treated and rushed to Norwalk Hospital. From there he was transported to Yale-New Haven where he remains. No update was available on his health condition.

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“When you are operating your boat you’re not only responsible for people on your boat, but also for people around you,” Arciola said, adding that the tragic incident was a ‘very uncommon occurrence’ for Westport.

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Boating is a great form of recreation, but even after a driver consumes one or two alcoholic drinks a designated driver may be necessary, Arciola indicated.

The driver must be familiar with the area, with being on the water, and with the boat he or she is operating, he said. The State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has taken steps to educate boaters in order to provide a safe environment for everybody on the water such as requiring a boat safety course for all drivers

A review of state and U.S. Coast Guard data by the Connecticut Health I-Team reveals that the number of , compared to six between 2001 and 2005. The highest number of deaths to occur in one year was seven, which occurred in 2008.

“An educated boater is a safe boater,” Arciola said, adding that drivers should stay updated on boating laws and familiarized with boating equipment. “We had a person unfamiliar with boating on this boat, and on top of that he was under the influence.”

Fardoust was released on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court July 18. 


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