Bride-to-be, best man are victims in boating accident on Hudson

New York — A young woman who was set to be married in two weeks is presumed dead and her fiancé’s best man remained missing Saturday after a boating accident on the Hudson River Friday night, the authorities said.

The driver of the boat, Jojo K. John, 35, was accused of driving the vessel while intoxicated and was charged with vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault.

Lindsey Stewart, 30, was with her fiancé, Brian Bond, 35, and four other friends in a Stingray speedboat when it struck a construction barge just south of the Tappan Zee Bridge around 10:40 p.m., the authorities said.

Stewart and the best man, Mark Lennon, 30, were in the front of the boat and were thrown into the river, the police said.

The police said they found the body of a woman matching the Stewart’s description floating just offshore Saturday. The Rockland County medical examiner was working to determine the cause of death and make an identification, the police said.

Lennon remained missing as authorities suspended the search Saturday evening.

Friends and relatives gathered on the banks of the Hudson early Saturday, placing two white roses in the water and hoping for a miracle.

“She is supposed to be married in two weeks from today,” Lindsey Stewart’s mother, Carol, told WABC-TV. “It can’t end like this.”

The couple had known each other since they were children and their wedding was to take place Aug. 10. The group of friends, including John, had gone out to dinner in Piermont, N.Y., 25 miles north of New York City, before taking the boat to cross the river to go to Tarrytown. Bond, the fiancé, was knocked unconscious during the accident and was hospitalized with a serious head wound, the police said. John also was hospitalized with a head wound.

Chief William Barbera of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office said that at least one of the passengers called 911, but was disoriented and could not communicate the exact location. The Coast Guard was alerted and immediately launched a rescue effort.

After locating the damaged vessel, four of the victims were taken to hospitals. The authorities continued to search for the other passengers until 1:30 a.m. before suspending the operation until daybreak.