Four passengers were sent to hospital after a passenger boat somehow struck one of the massive supports for the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in 91原创.
Paul Tasker of the Rescue Co-Ordination Centre said coast guard and police vessels as well as a nearby tug raced to the scene when a 58-foot power vessel with 15 persons on board ran head-on into the bridge support about 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
鈥淔our passengers were taken to Cates Park, where they were transferred to ambulances,鈥� said Tasker. 鈥淥ne passenger had a broken arm.鈥�
The other 11 passengers were also moved to Cates Park, as the vessel suffered serious front-end damage and had to be towed to safety.
鈥淭he operator appeared to be distracted,鈥� said Coquitlam RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Lemon. 鈥淢ost of the passengers suffered some form of injury.鈥�
The four most seriously injured passengers were rushed to Lions Gate Hospital in North 91原创 for treatment.
Marine investigators spent Sunday on the water collecting further clues.
Lemon said the operator is facing possible charges, 鈥減robably under the Canada Shipping Act.鈥�
鈥� A second group of boaters also ran into trouble Saturday when a boat exploded in the Fraser River about 6 p.m.
Three passengers on board were rescued by boaters who were passing the scene, near Richmond鈥檚 Steveston neighbourhood.
By the time fire crews got to the blaze, the boat had burned nearly down to the waterline.
