Deadly Boston Harbor boat crash: DA identifies young woman killed near Logan Airport

BOSTON — Authorities have identified a young woman who was killed in a boat crash in Boston Harbor near Logan International Airport late Wednesday night.

A recreational boat struck the Logan Airport Pier 4R around 11:20 p.m., throwing four passengers onto the rocks wrapping the shore, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.

Elizabeth Dankert, 24, of Andover, a pair of her 23-year-old female friends, and a 40-year-old man who operated the boat, were all rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dankert was pronounced dead early Thursday morning. The three other boaters, whose names haven’t been released, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Dankert was a 2024 graduate of Union College.

“Lizzie was an exceptional student-athlete who had a tremendous impact during her four years at Union College,” a college spokesperson said Thursday. “Her passing is a profound loss for our campus community. We offer our condolences to Lizzie’s family, classmates, teammates and all those who were lucky to know this terrific young woman.”

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The DA’s office noted the three young women boarded the boat in Boston’s Seaport. A spokesperson for Brunswick Corporation, which owns a Freedom Boat Club location in the Seaport, says the boat involved in the crash was taken “without authorization” and “well after the club was closed.”

“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,” a statement shared with Boston 25 News stated.

Brunswick Corporation says it’s cooperating with authorities as they continue to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“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. I want to thank EMS personnel and other first responders for their exceptional treatment and recovery work under extremely difficult conditions,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said in a statement.

Massport Fire, Boston EMS, state troopers assigned to the DA’s office, and Massachusetts Environmental Police responded to the scene.

Boston EMS said that crews “carefully extricated” the four victims from the rocks near the pier.