Massachusetts State Police, local agencies, searching for jet-skier who collided with boat

The Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and local public safety agencies continue to search today for a jet-skier who is missing following a collision with a boat yesterday on the Connecticut River in Northampton.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, the incident occurred yesterday roughly around 7:00 PM. Two occupants of the boat were rescued by Environmental Police Officers and transported by boat to the state boat ramp along Route 5. They were transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Teams from MEP, MSP and local agencies conducted search operations on the river until just before midnight yesterday but did not locate the missing jet-ski operator.

Search teams are back on station today. Troopers and Officers are deploying side-scan sonar equipment, which feeds a sonar image of the water column and river bottom back to a monitor on the boats. If any anomalies or objects are detected by the sonar, divers will enter the water to investigate further.

The missing jet skier is believed to be a 51-year-old man, but final confirmation has not been made.