Several crews respond to head-on crash involving two boats, 7 passengers off of Providence Point

Multiple crews responded to a boat crash on Sunday involving several passengers.

According to the Portsmouth Fire Department, at 6:30 p.m., Portsmouth Fire Alarm received a 911 call for a head-on crash of two boats in the water off Potters Cove, Prudence Island with 3 or more injured. The condition of the boats involved and the total number of people on board were unknown.

Portsmouth Marine 1 responded, and the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force was activated through Metro-Control sending additional fire and police marine units from Warwick, Bristol, DEM, USCG Station Castle Hill, Warren, Cranston, Providence, and North Kingstown.

The first arriving marine assets searched Potters Cove with no boats in distress found. Portsmouth Fire Alarm was able to contact one of the boats involved by phone and directed them to use a flare to signal to the search teams. Warwick Marine 7 was the first to see the signal flare and locate the vessels off Providence Point, Prudence Island.

Once response units were on scene, 7 passengers were evaluated, with one medical refusal.

All units were cleared, and a private salvage company remained on scene with the boats involved.