Two Bodies Recovered After Boating Accident; Driver Faces Felony Charges

Editor's Note: The following story was originally posted July 29, 3013 by Ryan Buncher on the Nyack Patch.

Authorities have confirmed that a second body was found in the Hudson River near the site where a speedboat crashed into a barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge Friday night.

The body, which was discovered about a mile from Piermont Pier and approximately three site of the accident by two people on jet skis, has not been identified. Crews had been searching for Mark Lennon of Pearl River since Friday night.

"He does fit the description of of the person missing," said William Barbara, a chief with the Rockland County Sheriff's Department. "The medical examiner's office will officially say if it is or not and we expect that to happen Monday."

Lennon had been riding in the speedboat with five other people Friday night. He and Lindsey Stewart of Piermont were thrown overboard and the four other people on the boat were injured. A body believed to be Stewart's was recovered Saturday.

Stewart was set to marry Brian Bond, a Pearl River resident and a teacher at the Mamaroneck Avenue School in White Plains,  on Aug. 10. with Lennon expected to be the best man. 

Bond, who was also injured in the accident, is one of four survivors recovering at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.

Jojo John of Nyack, the boat's driver, has been charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree and three counts of vehicular assault in the third degree, all felony charges. John was injured in the crash. According to officials, he is suspected of being intoxicated while he was operating the speedboat.