Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Dankert, a 24-year-old woman from Andover, Massachusetts, was killed Wednesday night after a recreational boat struck a concrete structure in Boston Harbor, according to WHDH 7News. Dankert was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital following the crash, which occurred at Logan Airport Pier 4R at approximately 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed her death on Thursday, May 14.
According to WHDH 7News, Dankert had been in Boston’s Seaport district earlier that evening with two female friends, both 23 years old, when the group boarded a boat owned by a 40-year-old man. The exact circumstances of how the group came to board the vessel are under investigation. One of the three people onboard alongside Dankert called 911 and reported that their boat had collided with another. When emergency responders arrived at the scene, however, they located only the single recreational boat — no second vessel was found in the vicinity.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office reported that the boat struck a concrete structure, violently throwing all passengers onto rocks near the shoreline. Dankert sustained fatal injuries as a result. Her two 23-year-old friends and the 40-year-old operator of the boat each suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening. The conditions of that night — occurring well after 11 p.m. in Boston Harbor — presented significant challenges to first responders who worked to locate and treat the injured passengers.
The boat involved in the crash belongs to Freedom Boat Club, a membership-based service that allows members to access boats without the burden of individual ownership and maintenance. In a statement following the crash, a spokesperson for the club said, “The vessel involved was taken without authorization and operated outside the knowledge and control of the Club, well after the Club had closed for the day.” That statement places the boat’s use that night outside the scope of any sanctioned club activity and is expected to factor into the ongoing investigation.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden released a statement addressing both the tragedy and the active investigation. “I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Elizabeth Dankert and I assure them that all aspects of this tragedy are under investigation,” Hayden said, as reported by WHDH 7News. “I want to thank EMS personnel and other first responders for their exceptional treatment and recovery work under extremely difficult conditions.” The DA’s office has assigned state police to investigate all aspects of the incident.
Dankert’s father spoke publicly about his daughter in the aftermath of the tragedy, noting that she enjoyed being on the water but said he knew little about the specific circumstances surrounding her death. He shared that she was a graduate of Central Catholic High School and had played soccer at Union College. Union College released its own statement mourning her loss: “Lizzie was an exceptional student-athlete who had a tremendous impact during her four years at Union College. Her passing is a profound loss for our campus community.” State Senator Barry Finegold, who represents Andover, also spoke to the sense of grief spreading through the town. “It just shows how fragile life can be, and it’s just a tragedy that happened,” Finegold said. “You know our hearts go out to this family. It’s just very, very sad.”
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred at Logan Airport Pier 4R, a waterfront structure on Boston Harbor adjacent to Logan International Airport in East Boston, Massachusetts. Boston Harbor is a heavily trafficked marine environment, particularly near the Seaport District and the airport piers, where recreational and commercial vessels frequently operate in close proximity. The area near Pier 4R involves concrete and structural shoreline elements that present significant hazards to watercraft — particularly at night and at unsafe speeds. While this incident took place in Boston Harbor and not on Long Island waterways, boating safety considerations are directly relevant to local waterway users throughout the region who operate on similarly busy harbor and bay environments.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
As of May 14, 2026, no charges had been filed in connection with Dankert’s death, according to WHDH 7News. Sources told 7NEWS that investigators are still awaiting a technical report on the speed the boat was traveling at the time of the crash, as well as toxicology results from those involved, before prosecutors make any decisions regarding charges. The investigation is being conducted by Massachusetts State Police assigned to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s Office. The unauthorized use of the Freedom Boat Club vessel adds a potential additional legal dimension to the case, though the DA’s office has not yet publicly characterized how that factor will influence any prospective charges.
Broader Impact
Boating under the influence and unauthorized vessel operation are serious criminal matters in Massachusetts and New York alike. Under New York State law, operating a vessel while intoxicated — with a BAC of .08 or higher — is a criminal offense that can result in up to one year in jail for a first offense, with significantly enhanced penalties when the conduct results in serious injury or death. For Long Island residents who boat on Great South Bay, Peconic Bay, or Long Island Sound, this case is a stark reminder of the legal and human consequences of unauthorized or impaired watercraft operation, particularly after dark and in high-traffic marine corridors.