A fatal boating crash near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has left two people dead and two others injured. Local authorities are investigating the incident, which occurred on the evening of Friday, June 27, when a vessel collided with a day marker in the Intracoastal Waterway. The incident occurred in the Skull Creek area, just before 10 p.m., according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, which shared an update on Facebook. Officials reported that upon arrival, the vessel was found with four individuals onboard, with two sustaining injuries and being transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other two individuals were found deceased at the scene.
Emergency crews were rapidly deployed to the area as divers were sent into the water to assist in the rescue operations. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is leading the investigation into the incident and reported that the missing individuals and two dogs were found inside the overturned boat. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the collision, and the vessel’s operator is among the deceased. At this time, no criminal charges are being considered.
The deceased individuals have been identified as 73-year-old Patsy Montgomery and 76-year-old James Montgomery, residents of Bluffton. The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office confirmed their identities to local outlet WJCL and noted that the official cause of death has not been determined. The incident has prompted expressions of sympathy from local officials, including Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry, who shared condolences on his Facebook page. Perry wrote,