Editor's Note --The Delaware City firefighter operating a boat the struck a jetty early Wednesday was charged with negligence by operating at excessive speed. Edward Kalinwoski, 62, suffered a broken ankle in the incident. He was charged by Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement.
Three Delaware responders were injured early Wednesday morning when their rescue boat hit a jetty in the Delaware River.
The three from Delaware City Fire Company were searching for a missing vessel near Artificial Island when they became victims themselves, according to The News Journal.
Delaware City's fire boat struck the jetty on the north side of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, continued over the rocks and immediately started having water come into the hull of the vessel, Delaware City Fire Company spokesman Dave Carpenter Jr. told reporters.
The operator of the vessel suffered an ankle injury, the second crew member suffered facial injuries, and the third crew member suffered lacerations, and hip and back injuries.
The crew was injured when they were thrown forward into the cabin console. Minutes later, they advised they were evacuating because the craft was sinking.
The 911 Center dispatched Port Penn, Goodwill of New Castle, and Lower Alloways Creek Marine Rescue Units, Delaware State Police Aviation, US Coast Guard, Delaware Fish & Wildlife Marine Enforcement, to the scene.
Port Penn and Goodwill Rescue personnel rescued the stranded crew from the jetty and transported them to Delaware City docks for medical evaluation and transport to Christiana Hospital.
