Boat crashes into outer harbor break wall, driver charged

Six people were rescued after the boat they were in hit a the break wall in the outer harbor. The driver now faces charges of boating while intoxicated.

The crash happened around 12:30 a.m. Friday in the outer harbor channel near the old Pier Restaurant site off Furhmann Boulevard.

After the rescue, 21-year-old Cody Pudlewski of Angola was evaluated by deputies. They determined he was impaired. Officers say Pudlewski could face more charges.

The U.S. Coast Guard arrived on scene first and initially rescued five people from the boat.

"There was a lot of medical emergencies we needed attend to.  We got the people off of the boat at the time and brought them back to the inner breakwall were EMS were waiting for them," said Boatswain's Mate Jeremy Bossinger, U.S. Coast Guard.

The Erie County Sheriff's office says injuries include lacerations and possible broken bones.

"The operator of the vessel that hit the break wall had a severe head injury.  He was confused as to how many people were actually on the boat," said Buffalo Fire Division Chief Michael Tuberdyke.

This led to a sixth person being unaccounted for during a short time.

When the Coast Guard went back out to search the crash site they used an illumination flare to light up the dark sky.  They found the sixth person sitting on the break wall with a minor injury.