Family Files Notice of Claim After Deadly Niagara River Boat Crash
The family of 66-year-old Jerome Williams has filed a notice of claim against multiple agencies, alleging negligence after a July boating collision on the Niagara River that killed his fiancée and left Williams presumed dead.
According to New York State police, the crash occurred on the evening of July 23 when a 35-foot boat operated by Williams struck a concrete abutment in the upper Niagara River. Witnesses reported the vessel was traveling at high speed and the collision catastrophically damaged the boat, ejecting both occupants into the water. The female passenger was recovered days later; Williams has not been found and is presumed dead.
News report
The notice of claim — a required preliminary filing before a formal lawsuit can be initiated — was submitted by Amherst attorney Aaron F. Glazer on behalf of Williams and his daughter. The document names three defendants: the City of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Falls Water Board and the New York Power Authority.
Court records indicate the concrete abutment struck by the boat is believed to be owned and maintained by the named agencies. The family alleges the agencies failed to maintain river infrastructure and did not provide adequate warnings to boaters about hazards in the area.
In a statement, attorney Glazer said the investigation is “pending and unresolved” and that the notice was served to preserve the statute of limitations should litigation become necessary.
Both the City of Niagara Falls and the New York Power Authority told reporters they do not comment on pending litigation; a response from the Niagara Falls Water Board was not immediately available at the time of reporting.
Authorities continue to treat the case as an active investigation and have previously described a multi-agency recovery operation involving state park police, marine units, and aerial assets following the crash.
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