Longtime Old Saybrook residents pushing for increased water safety after deadly boating accident

OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WTNH) — Crews continued to search the water in Old Saybrook on Wednesday for two missing men after a deadly boat crash on Labor Day.

Police identified the man found dead inside the vessel as 34-year-old Chris Hallahan of Westbrook.

Meanwhile, local and state police and Coast Guard crews have searched the water for over 25 hours to recover the two missing men. Those efforts were suspended at sunset around 7:30 p.m. and unfortunately, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said there are no updates on the search Wednesday night.

“I want Saybrook to be known as a tourist destination, not a death trap so let’s get this right,” Saybrook Point Inn Owner Stephen Tagliatela said.

Through Coast Guard petitions and online groups, longtime Old Saybrook residents are demanding safety improvements at Saybrook Point after a deadly boat crash rocks the tight-knit community.

“This problem occurs year after year after year,” Tagliatela said. “As you know, there was an accident just on the fourth of September last year and there’s a long history of this and a lot don’t even get reported. So there’s more than people recognize and realize.”

Tagliatela has been working to make the channel safer for decades. 20 years ago, he petitioned to the Coast Guard to get a lighted buoy at mouth of the breakwater in this area where the crash happened, which they did add.

Now he’s calling for better visibility to mark the northeast corner.

“It really needs some 3m type products, reflective products that last a lifetime,” Tagliatela said. “What I’m asking of the Coast Guard is to move that buoy out more so it can be seen 270 degrees instead of the narrow bandwidth from south to north.”

Captain Pete Wheeler took our crew out on the water for a closer look at where the boat hit the breakwater.

He’s been sailing here for nearly 50 years and said he’s seen many wrecks. His advice to boaters, take it slow.

“I’ve rescued people. I’ve seen people hit rocks right next to Saybrook Point,” Sea Sprite Sport Fishing Captain Pete Wheeler said. “It could be six, seven, eight boat lengths before you’re going to stop. Consequently, it’s speed.”

Police are still investigating what caused this crash.

We did reach out to the Coast Guard for comment on upgrading safety measures but have not heard back.

DEEP officials said the search will resume Thursday morning at 8 a.m.

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