SAN DIEGO — A Dec. 20 nighttime collision between a 33-foot Coast Guard boat and a 24-foot recreational boat that claimed the life of an 8-year-old boy remains under investigation by three different entities: the Coast Guard, San Diego Harbor Police and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Photo by: U.S. Coast Guard Seeking Information — Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo, commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, addressed media representatives about a collision between a Coast Guard 33-foot response boat and a 24-foot recreational boat Dec. 20. The collision occurred on San Diego Bay during the annual Parade of Lights between a boat with spectators aboard and a response boat from Station San Diego.

The collision occurred at about 6 p.m., shortly after sunset on San Diego Bay, on an evening that later featured fireworks and the annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights boat parade. According to an Associated Press report, parade spectators reported that the Coast Guard boat sped up and turned in response to hearing a report of an emergency, just prior to the collision. The recreational boat, a Sea Ray, was being driven by 44-year-old Alan DeWeese of Rancho Penasquitos.

The force of the crash killed DeWeese’s 8-year-old son, Anthony, and seriously injured five others aboard the recreational vessel. The five have since been released from the hospital. No injuries were reported to the five Coast Guard crew aboard the 33-foot special purpose craft (SPC-LE).

“We’re conducting an investigation. we’re conducting a joint investigation, with the San Diego Harbor Police and the NTSB is conducting an investigation,” said Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer 2nd Class Jetta Disco. “As of now, we’re in the middle of (the investigations) and don’t know when the findings will be released.”

Immediately after the crash, NTSB investigators spent three days examining the vessels involved and interviewing Coast Guard crew, witnesses and victims.

NTSB spokesman Peter Knutsen stated that tests conducted immediately after the crash indicated none of the five Coast Guard crewmembers aboard had drugs or alcohol in their systems. The DeWeese family has given interviews to Coast Guard and Harbor Police investigators.

Investigators are said to be looking into the speed and bearing of both boats immediately prior to impact, and whether the recreational vessel had its navigation lights turned on. According to a report published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, recreational boat operator DeWeese said he firmly believes his craft was traveling safely and was properly lighted at the time of the tragedy.

The Coast Guard special purpose craft (SPC-LE) was added to the agency’s fleet in 2007. The 33-foot aluminum monohull vessel has a 10-foot beam, a foam collar and three outboard engines.

The 87-foot Coast Guard cutter Haddock, which had been scheduled to lead the boat parade, broke off and assisted at the collision scene.

Harbor Police and San Diego Fire Department personnel also assisted in rescue efforts.