New York State Police and State Park Police received some help Wednesday in their search for the remaining victim of July 23’s boat crash in the upper Niagara River.
ASI Marine offered its assistance to New York State Park Police with a underwater search of the area around the NYPA water intakes in efforts to find missing boater Jerome Williams.
The company, with offices in Orchard Park and Canada, uses advanced robotic vehicles that are equipped with the latest in sonar and video imaging, survey, and inspection technologies. Through the use of its sonar technology, ASI can create highly accurate 3D models of underwater infrastructure, according to its website.
ASI staff used a remote operated vehicle (ROV), sonar, and a camera during the search but were unsuccessful in locating Williams.
Wednesday’s search followed the recovery of the body of Natalie Sansivero of Grand Island, on Friday evening. Searchers made that recovery roughly one mile from where the accident occurred.
Williams of Buffalo and Sansivero were killed when their 35-foot, 2015 Scout Boat slammed into the main water intake for the Niagara Falls Water Board.
The Park Police Marine Bureau is conducting an investigation and accident reconstruction of the crash.
Witnesses said the boat was traveling west on the upper river, just north of Navy Island, at around 9:40 p.m. on July 23 when it slammed into the water intake. The force of the crash sheared off a piece of the boat, leaving debris hanging from the intake.