During the Fourth of July festivities throughout the Hudson Valley, we talked a lot about making it a safe holiday. While most of those discussions centered around cars and safe driving on our roadways, there was also attention paid to safe boating.

Unfortunately, on the evening of July third, the waters of Swinging Bridge Reservoir in the town of Thompson were anything but safe.

According to the New York State Department of Conservation, an accident occurred in which a boat travelling at a high rate of speed crashed into a pontoon boat in the middle of the reservoir. The speeding boat immediately began to sink.

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While the passengers on the pontoon boat were able to rescue the two men thrown from the sinking vessel, they didn't stick around once the boat reached the shore. They apparently fled the scene on foot before the authorities arrived.

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The boat was pulled from the waters of the reservoir this week with help from the Sullivan County Sheriff's office, local fire departments, NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Officers, and the New York State Police.

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The investigation to identify the two subjects continues. If you have any information, please contact the Sullivan County Sheriff's office at 845-794-7100.

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