First responders pull two men from Bolles Harbor canal after boating accident

MONROE COUNTY, Michigan – First responders rescued two people from the Bolles harbor canal after their boat crashed into a sea wall and partially sank.

At 11:26 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, 2024, several people called 911 to report that a boat was sinking near the entrance to Bolles Harbor and that two people were in the water.

Monroe County Sheriff's deputies and firefighters arrived on scene and found a 62-year-old Monroe man and his 38-year-old son clinging to rocks near the Hoffman Memorial Fishing Pier in Bolles Harbor. Both were pulled from the water by first responders.

Authorities said initial information indicated the two men were operating a 26-foot Chris-Craft boat built in 1983. The boat crashed into the sea wall near Channel Marker No. 10 as it tried to enter the harbor. The boat's hull ruptured and the boat partially sank in the channel.

Both men were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash.

The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 734-240-7703 or 734-240-7729