Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog
Community seeks answers for the cause of deadly boat accident
Bostonians are mourning the loss of a 27-year-old woman killed in a boat crash in Boston Harbor on July 17 and seeking information about the accident.
Jeanica Julce of Somerville died after the boat she was on crashed into a “day marker” buoy around 3 a.m., tossing her and the seven other people on board into the water.
It took the U.S. Coast Guard and state and local police almost 13 hours to locate Julce’s body. Rescuers transported five of the seven other crash victims to local hospitals for medical treatment.
Julce’s family and friends shared with news reporters that the young woman loved dance and photography and had an enthusiasm for people and life. She had dreamed about opening a dance studio after graduating from UMass Boston next year. They said they are still reeling from the loss and want to know how the crash happened.
The 35-foot center console boat reportedly belongs to Julce’s former employer. Center console boats are single-deck open hull boats with a centrally located helm. People often use them for fishing and day cruising.
Hundreds of people die in recreational boating accidents every year. In 2019, the Coast Guard tracked 4,168 accidents that resulted in 613 deaths and 2,559 injuries. Night-time boating can be dangerous because of reduced visibility. Collisions with fixed objects are one of the main types of boating accidents. The majority of boating accidents involve open motorboats such as center console boats. Regardless of the time of day, alcohol use often causes or contributes to fatal boating accidents. Boaters can prevent night-time accidents by slowing down, sharing lookout duties, and ensuring that everyone on board wears a life jacket.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boat crash that killed Julce. Individuals with information should contact Boston police homicide detectives at 617-343-4470 or leave an anonymous tip by calling the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS or texting the word ‘TIP’ to 27463 (CRIME).
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a boating accident, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers to schedule a free legal consultation at (617) 777-7777.