A story published in last week's issue, "Boat Crash Under Investigation," (9/20/07) had several errors, according to Westport Island selectman, Jack Swanton.

The accident involved a boat, Tow Boat/US being piloted by Wiscasset resident Sean Rafter, which hit a boat owned by David and Nancy Adler, which was on a mooring. The location was wrongly identified in the story as the Back River, from information supplied by U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Ed Green. The accident occurred on the Sheepscot River.

Unfortunately, as of press time, the newspaper still had conflicting information about the date. While Swanton and several other island residents the newspaper contacted said it happened on Friday, Aug. 31, U.S. Coast Guard officials continue to say it happened on Saturday, Sept. 1. U.S. Coast Guard investigating officer, Mike Wireman, contacted Tuesday morning, said the accident happened on Saturday, Sept. 1, and a Coast Guard vessel was sent up the Sheepscot to take pictures of the boats on Sunday, Sept. 2.

Lieutenant Green was quoted in the story as saying the Coast Guard did not learn of the accident until a week later. The newspaper was unable to contact Lieutenant Green this week because he is on vacation. Wireman confirmed that the Coast Guard knew of the accident soon after it happened.

Swanton said he towed Rafter's boat to a dock, and stood by while Rafter reported the accident to the Coast Guard by VHF radio. According to Seaman Chris Brooks in Boothbay, the Coast Guard's log has no report of the accident recorded on Aug. 31, but there is a report logged in on Sept. 1, which notes that the incident was called in by Tow Boat/U.S (the name of the caller is not recorded) saying the tow boat collided with another vessel, but both boats were "safely moored and docked, no one was injured to their knowledge."

The newspaper apologizes to Sean Rafter for these errors. Contacted this week by the newspaper, Rafter said he would have no comment.

Wireman said he is nearly finished taking statements from Rafter and others who have knowledge of the accident, but the report will probably not be released for two or three months because it must go through a review process.