Two Boston men were indicted Wednesday in connection with a boating incident on Spectacle Island that caused a woman to lose her arm, according to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.
Benjamin Urbelis of Charlestown was charged with negligent operation of a boat, operating under the influence of alcohol, and furnishing alcohol to minors. In addition, Alexander Williams of West End is charged with negligent operation of a boat, furnishing alcohol to minors, and tampering with evidence.
On May 30, prosecutors allege Urbelis and Williams were among a group of 13 people on board a 30-foot vessel named "Naut Guilty," which belongs to Urbelis. Authorities responded to a distress call around 7:45 p.m. and helped rescue a 19-year-old woman from Auburn whose arm was severed by the boat's propeller. She was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital and is expected to survive.
Police initially charged Urbelis with causing serious bodily injury while operating a boat under the influence of alcohol, in addition to other offences. He was held on $75,000 bail after his June 1 arraignment, bur prosecutors reduced his bail to $10,000 as they investigated his control over the boat.
Williams was charged on June 26 after investigation revealed that he was operating the boat at the time of the incident, resulting in prosecutors dropping the bodily injury charge for Urbelis.
The suspects will be arraigned on July 31 in Suffolk Superior Court.
