Crews search river after resident hears boat crash, people screaming

Initial search in Warren River comes up empty; officials later learn of crash on Despair Island

By Josh Bickford
Posted 7/14/16

Police and fire crews from Barrington, Warren and Bristol searched the water and shoreline along the Warren River near Smith's Cove on Wednesday night, July 13, for any signs of a boating accident, …

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Crews search river after resident hears boat crash, people screaming

Initial search in Warren River comes up empty; officials later learn of crash on Despair Island

Posted

Police and fire crews from Barrington, Warren and Bristol searched the water and shoreline along the Warren River near Smith's Cove on Wednesday night, July 13, for any signs of a boating accident, but found nothing.

According to a Barrington Fire Department official, a resident called in the apparent accident at about 9:45 p.m., after hearing the sound of a boat crash, an engine revving, and people screaming. 

The Barrington Fire Department dispatched a crew to the shoreline at Smith's Cove while Warren and Bristol sent rescue boats to search the water. Later on Wednesday night, a third boat joined the search near Smith's Cove.

Officials reportedly found no evidence of a crash in the Warren River, but did learn of an accident that occurred at Despair Island — a rocky outcrop located between Hope Island and Prudence — at about the same time the initial call was received.

A Barrington Fire Department official said the US Coast Guard and the Warwick Fire Department responded to the accident on Despair Island and transported two individuals to a hospital for minor injuries. 

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.