A Coast Guard vessel was traveling at about 25 mph when it hit a recreational boat at the Parade of Lights on Mission Bay and killed an 8-year-old boy, a crew member on board estimates.
The collision occurred as boats were gathered in San Diego Bay for an annual Christmas parade of decorated boats on December 20, 2009.
The 33-foot Coast Guard boat was responding to a report of a grounded vessel when it rammed the 26-foot Sea Ray pleasure boat. Witnesses had said the Coast Guard boat was speeding.
Petty Officer Jarett Koelmel said he wasn't looking at the speedometer but estimates the vessel was going 23 to 29 mph when it hit the nearly idle pleasure boat. He doesn't believe his vessel's bow was planing upward.
The new documents containing Koelmel’s estimated were released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board. Only two of the five Coast Guard crew members agreed to speak with investigators.
The crash killed Anthony DeWeese, 8, and injured five others on the recreational boat. DeWeese was struck in the head and died at a hospital after the crash.
The NTSB offers no conclusions about went wrong and does not assign blame.
