One missing after deadly boat accident

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) - One of the 10 boaters who was on board a 22-foot sailboat that capsized in the James River Friday morning has died and another is still missing.

Tyler Lorenzi, 23, died at Riverside Regional Hospital around 1:30 Friday afternoon. Coast Guard crews and local responders continue to search the river for a 24-year-old man that remains missing.

Lorenzi was an associate research engineer at the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) in Hampton and did his research at NASA Langley.

Lorenzi was the only NIA employee, and six on board were graduate students at NIA.

Those that work at NIA were stunned by what happened. Lorenzi's boss Robert Lindberg said, "The goal of his research was to develop surface engineered material systems to prevent insect contamination on aircraft wings and radiation absorption."

The boat capsized around midnight in the James River between Isle of Wight and Newport News at the mouth of the Pagan River, according to Newport News Battalion Chief Robert Lee.

A group of ten people, six men and four women, all in their 20s, were at a party late Thursday night when they decided to go for a midnight cruise on one of their sailboats, according to John Bull with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).

Something caused the boat to capsize near the old Ghost Fleet, north of Smithifield. It's still unclear what exactly caused the boat to capsize, Bull said.

After the boat capsized, Bull said five people swam several miles to shore, arriving at Aberdeen Farms in Smithfield around 4 a.m. At that same time, a tugboat was traveling down the river when it hit the capsized boat and sent out an alert call.

Thankfully, the Coast Guard and some local fire and rescue personnel were in the area conducting a maritime response exercise, Bull continued. They immediately headed to the scene and started searching for the boaters.

Those rescued were transported to Riverside Hospital and are listed in stable condition. Newport News fire units, Smithfield Fire, Virginia Marine Police and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the rescue.

Officials said none of the boaters were wearing life vests and say it's a miracle five people were able to make it back to shore.

Grief counselors will be part of the work force at NIA on Monday.