AKWESASNE -- A 25-foot U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat was the law enforcement vessel that collided with an Akwesasne resident's boat on the St. Lawrence River at about 9 p.m. Monday, the Coast Guard confirmed.
Two unidentified Akwesasne men on a hydro yacht sustained severe injuries in the collision, family members said. One of the men is reportedly paralyzed.
Akwesasne wants an independent investigation of the incident. "Incidents such as the one that occurred this past Monday test that trust we place in them," Grand Chief Mike Mitchell said of law enforcement officials.
According to Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Lt. Brian Sadler, four Coast Guard agents were treated and released for minor injuries in the incident.
The U.S. Coast Guard was called to assist with the pursuit of the hydro yacht, which had been travelling at a high rate of speed without lights, Sadler said.
The vessel had initially been pursued by the RCMP, though officials have not released the violation committed by the civilian boaters.
"The water doesn't leave as much evidence as screech marks on the highway," said Lt. Sadler, noting a complete investigation into the incident is under way.
The crash has drawn the attention of various Akwesasne officials, who are demanding answers.
"We, as a river community, cannot be criminalized and profiled simply because of our geog ra p h i c location," said Kanatakon District Chief Rachel Roundpoint in a statement to media Wednesday. "Outside police agencies should not assume that all Akwesasne residents are engaged in criminal activity."
Eyewitnesses to the crash said they saw nothing recovered from the men's damaged vessel.
Tsi Snaihne District Chief Karen Loran reminded that there are many traditional uses for water by the native community. "Our community members travel our rivers for recreation, and many fishermen still rely on our waters to provide for their families," she stated.
Witnesses said the crash occurred near a shoreline apartment complex, next to a popular marina known as Loran's. The vessels reportedly collided only about 140 metres from the U.S. shoreline of Akwesasne.
The U.S. Border Patrol and the OPP also had vessels on the water during the pursuit.
It's unclear if the injured men will face any charges at this point, Sadler said, or from which agency they would come.