The Latest: Sunken boat was in prohibited area of bay

WINGATE, Md. – The Latest on the rescue of more than 20 people aboard a sunken boat in the Chesapeake Bay (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard says a boat that sank in the Chesapeake Bay — sparking the emergency rescue of two dozen passengers including schoolchildren — was in a prohibited area.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class David Marin said by telephone that the boat was in an off-limits area when a distress call went out Wednesday evening. Authorities say boat and helicopter crews were launched but a commercial boat arrived, rescued everyone and took them to shore.

Marin said the area was off-limits because of obstructions in the water.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation owns the boat. The foundation said in a statement that 14 students were among the 23 people who were rescued. Foundation President William Baker declined to comment about the location, saying that would be part of the Coast Guard’s investigation.

The Coast Guard said 22 people were rescued. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.

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2:15 a.m.

Authorities say a good Samaritan rescued 22 people, including schoolchildren, after their boat sank in the Chesapeake Bay.

The U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement it received a distress alert Wednesday saying a boat had sunk off Bloodsworth Island.

The statement says boat and helicopter crews were launched but a good Samaritan arrived, took the boaters aboard and brought them to shore in Wingate, where they were transferred to EMS personnel.

A spokeswoman for the Maryland Natural Resources Police tells the Baltimore Sun the vessel was a charter boat filled with schoolchildren.

The Coast Guard says one person was airlifted to a hospital and an unknown number of others were taken by ambulance.

Lt j.g. Issac Yates says everyone was wearing a life preserver.

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This story has been corrected to show Baker is foundation president, not director.