A boat captain was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated after his boat went up in flames near Hart Island in the Bronx, New York, on Saturday evening, June 7, 2025, which led passengers to evacuate into the water to avoid the blaze.
Joshua Brito, 33, a resident of the Bronx, was charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment after the incident at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the Long Island Sound. According to the New York Post, the 35-foot Carver yacht caught fire, prompting passengers to flee into the water.
The FDNY Marine 4 team, on routine patrol due to warm weather, noticed the fire and responded immediately. Marine units rescued three individuals from the water, while the other 20 passengers swam to Hart Island to escape the fire.
FDNY Assistant Chief Michael Meyers described the rescue from the scene. “Marine 4 grabbed three people out of the water,” Meyers said. The three rescued were taken to nearby docks, where Engine 70 and EMS personnel began CPR on the victims.
The Coast Guard identified the vessel as a 44-foot powerboat with an enclosed cabin. Specifications for the Carver 35 model indicate it is built to carry eight to 15 passengers, fewer than the 23 people aboard at the time.
All 23 passengers were injured during the evacuation, ranging from 17 to 58 years old. Twenty-two had minor injuries, and one person initially listed as critical later stabilized. Fourteen were taken to Jacobi Hospital Medical Center, while nine were transported to Montefiore Einstein Hospital.
A 46-year-old man remained in intensive care, a family member told reporters. The New York Daily News reported that 20 victims required hospitalization after the event.
Footage from the scene showed thick black smoke from the vessel as flames engulfed the rear. Passengers, in white clothing and seemingly celebrating, were seen rushing to the boat’s front as the fire spread.
Sources indicated the boat was among several tied together when the explosion ignited a fire that spread quickly, forcing passengers into the water between the Bronx and Westchester County, New York.
Meyers highlighted the rescue’s complexity, noting the boat’s size to carry so many passengers. Marine 4 personnel had observed the vessel earlier, noting the unusually high number of people aboard.
The rescue involved multiple agencies, including the FDNY, NYPD, and Coast Guard. Marine units transported survivors from Hart Island to City Island’s Yacht Club docks for further medical attention.
Brito was arrested at the scene and taken into custody, awaiting arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Police records show he resides in Bedford Park, Bronx, New York.
The cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation by local authorities and the Coast Guard, with no details on what triggered the blast that destroyed the recreational vessel.
