Search Efforts of Missing Boater Extend Below Niagara Falls to Lower River

UPDATE

Efforts continue to locate 66-year-old Jerome Williams of Buffalo who remains missing following a boating accident on the upper Niagara River. Search efforts have not recovered his body and there is concern that he may have been swept over Niagara Falls.

Teams have already conducted operations on the Lower Niagara River in response to that possibility.

The other victim, 46-year-old Natalie Sansivero of Grand Island, was located around 7:30pm on Friday, July 25th, approximately one mile downstream from where the crash occurred.

Officials say the boat was traveling at speeds over 50 miles per hour when it collided with a concrete abutment in the river. Witnesses reported seeing the violent impact, which appeared to throw both occupants into the water as the vessel overturned.

Due to the strong undercurrents in the upper Niagara River, authorities are uncertain how far the missing individual may have drifted. Given the proximity of the crash site to Niagara Falls - just a few miles upriver - search efforts are being broadened.

These parts of the river are known for their hazardous conditions as the current intensifies dramatically before reaching the falls. Water speeds in this area can reach up to 30 miles per hour, with more than 700,000 gallons flowing over the edge every second.

BODY OF NATALIE SANSIVERO RECOVERED

New York State Park Police have recovered the body of one of the two individuals who went missing after a high-speed boating accident on the upper Niagara River Wednesday night.

The victim, identified as 46-year-old Natalie Sansivero of Grand Island, was found around 7:30pm Friday, approximately one mile downstream from the crash site.

Efforts to locate the second missing individual, 66-year-old Jerome Williams of Buffalo, are ongoing. On Saturday and Sunday, search operations continued with assistance from the Erie County Sheriff’s Marine Unit and aerial support from a New York State Police helicopter, covering both the upper and lower sections of the river.

According to official reports, the vessel was traveling at speeds exceeding 50MPH when it struck a concrete abutment in the water.

Witnesses reported that the impact appeared to launch both occupants into the river as the boat overturned.

The response to the accident involved multiple agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, New York State Park Police, the Niagara and Erie County Sheriff’s Offices, police from the City and Town of Tonawanda, and fire departments from Grand Island and River Road. Aerial searches were supported by helicopters from both county sheriff's offices.

The damaged boat was retrieved from the river and is now in the custody of the Park Police Marine Bureau for investigation and accident reconstruction.

NAMES OF DECEASED BOATERS

The two individuals still missing have been identified as 66-year-old Jerome Williams of Buffalo and 46-year-old Natalie Sansivero of Grand Island.

The damaged vessel has since been removed from the Niagara River and will undergo examination by investigators from the New York State Park Police Marine Bureau.

The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations has taken over the missing persons case. A coordinated, multi-agency recovery operation, jointly led by State Police and Park Police, is ongoing.

The search for two missing individuals following a boating crash on the upper Niagara River has shifted to a recovery operation, according to New York State Park Police.

The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations has taken over the missing persons case.

Park Police say an extensive search of the crash site and nearby navigable waters, including surrounding shoreline areas, has already been conducted.

Despite these efforts, there has been no sign of the two individuals since their boat collided with a concrete piling near the North Grand Island Bridge late Wednesday night.

The State Park Police Marine Bureau is continuing its boating accident investigation.

Certified investigators from the division will complete the reconstruction of the incident as part of the formal inquiry.

The ongoing recovery mission is now being handled through a coordinated, multi-agency effort led jointly by New York State Park Police and State Police under a unified command structure.

ORIGINAL STORY

A search and rescue effort is continuing on the upper Niagara River after a boat struck a concrete abutment and capsized near the North Grand Island Bridge on Wednesday night. Officials fear the current may have carried the two missing boaters, a man and woman in their 60s, closer to Niagara Falls due to the strong current.

According to New York State Park Police, the incident occurred around 9:40pm when the vessel reportedly collided with a cement piling that supports power transmission line towers near the New York State Power Authority water intakes.

Authorities believe the boat was traveling at speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour when the crash occurred.

Search efforts continued into the early morning hours with the assistance of at least eight law enforcement boats and the Erie County Sheriff’s Air 1 helicopter. The search was suspended around 3am and is underway again, with Park Police planning to release preliminary findings later in the day.

Because of the powerful undercurrents of the upper Niagara River, officials say it is unclear how far downstream the missing individuals may have drifted. With the crash occurring just a few miles upriver from Niagara Falls, search teams are now extending operations toward the falls themselves.

Rescuers will begin expanding their search area Thursday to include the Niagara River rapids leading to the falls, the waters surrounding Goat Island, and areas adjacent to Niagara Falls State Park.

These portions of the river are known for their treacherous conditions and where water flow accelerate dramatically as they approach the falls. Currents reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour with over 700,000 gallons of water cascading over the brink every second.

The incident remains under investigation.

Search Efforts of Missing Boater Extend Below Niagara Falls to Lower River