A tourist boat capsized at Lockport Caves, a popular tourist attraction in Lockport, New York, causing one fatality and leaving 11 others injured on Monday, June 12.
The incident occurred at around 11:20 a.m. along the Niagara Escarpment ridge of the Erie Canal, situated 30 miles northeast of Buffalo. Local leaders and emergency officials have confirmed the incident.
Onboard the flat-bottomed, pontoon-style vessel were 28 adult tourists affiliated with Destination Niagara and one staff member. The boat overturned in the shallow waters of the narrow cave. The boat was specifically designed for the 300-foot underground tour, but did not have harnesses or life jackets for the passengers seated four across.
A man tragically lost his life, having been trapped under the boat. His absence was only discovered after the remaining people were evacuated from the cave by emergency responders. Sixteen people were rescued by boat, while the rest managed to walk to safety.
Local authorities reported that the victims suffered minor injuries, with the most severe being a broken arm. Police acknowledged the challenging circumstances under which they operated, as it took approximately an hour to confirm the unfortunate man’s passing.
Lockport Mayor Michelle Roman expressed surprise at the incident, stating that Lockport Caves had been operating safely since the 1970s. She pledged a thorough investigation into the accident, assuring the public that boat tours would not resume if any safety concerns were identified.
The exact cause of the boat capsizing remains unclear. Authorities are uncertain whether an air pocket existed beneath the vessel during the incident. Lockport Police Chief Steven Abbott acknowledged the danger of being trapped under a capsized boat, noting that it could be fatal even with a life jacket on.
