Putnam County Sheriff Robert L. Langley, Jr. reports an unfortunate incident on Lake Mahopac, which occurred on the 4^th of July Holiday.

On July 4^th, 2018, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Sergeant Matthew Monroe of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Marine Patrol Unit responded to a report of an occupied, disabled boat on Lake Mahopac. During heavy rain and frequent lightning strikes Sergeant Monroe was able to locate the disabled vessel, which was located near the northwest corner of the lake. The vessel was occupied by two males and two females, ranging in age from 28-41. One male passenger advised Sergeant Monroe that his boat and all of its passengers had been struck by lightning and that three of the four passengers required immediate medical care. Sergeant Monroe immediately requested for Mahopac Fire and Ambulance to be dispatched to Mahopac Marina. With the assistance of Mr. Charlie Melchner, the owner of Mahopac Marine, Sergeant Monroe was able to tow the disabled vessel, while the passengers were still on board. Once the disabled boat reached the dock, two EMSTAR paramedics along with members of the Mahopac Fire Department boarded the vessel and rendered aid to the injured passengers. Two of the passengers were subsequently transported to Putnam Hospital Center, and one passenger was transported to Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. The remaining passenger was evaluated and released at the scene.

Upon further inspection by Sergeant Monroe and Deputy Christopher Tompkins, it was determined that the lightning strike destroyed the majority of electrical equipment on the boat, rendering it disabled.