A husband and his wife were killed in a boat crash off Long Island over the holiday weekend, police said.
Louis Deritis, 53, and Renee Deritis, 50, died after the 27-foot boat they were on turned into the path of a 44-foot boat and they collided around 10:40 p.m. ET Sunday. The incident unfolded in the Great South Bay, a lagoon between Long Island and Fire Island, Suffolk County police said.
The collision caused the couple's boat to capsize and ejected Louis Deritis into the water, where the Coast Guard and Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers found him Monday morning, police said.
Rescue divers with the fire department found Renee Deritis' body in the cabin of the overturned boat, police said, adding that she was pronounced dead by the county medical examiner's office.
Louis and Renee Deritis lived in Oakdale, a hamlet on Long Island, police said.
The operator and the passengers on the other boat were not injured, police said, adding that both boats were impounded for safety checks.
"We all know what a horrible tragedy it is," said Ferdinand Caravousanos, 61, who was driving the 44-foot boat. "It’s very difficult. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for the family."
The investigation continues, said the police department, whose public information officer added that drugs and alcohol were not involved.
There were 636 boating deaths nationwide last year, a 3.3% decrease from the previous year, according to Coast Guard data.
