CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Air and surface crews with the U.S. Coast Guard searched the waters off St. Thomas for a boater who was ejected from his vessel after it crashed and spun out of control several times.
Davaughn Todman, 51, was reportedly ejected from a 30-foot white power boat today near Coki Point Beach and Thatch Cay.
A witness who saw the incident called 911, who directed the call to Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan. A MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter was launched for a search.
The Coast Guard then deployed a self-locating buoy and an HC-144 aircraft. St. Thomas Rescue crews sent a boat, divers, and a drone to aid in the search.
Officials said a friend of Davaughn’s towed his boat back to shore.
A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk aircrew searches for a missing boater off Coki Beach in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Janiary 14, 2024. The missing boater is Todman Davaughn, 51, who reportedly was ejected from a 30-foot white power boat after the vessel crashed and spun out of control several times. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Sanders)
Coast Guard watchstanders diverted the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen and a 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement to search.
Once on scene, the Coast Guard aircrew deployed a Self-Locating datum marker buoy to receive real time information on the sea-state and currents in the area.
A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft forward deployed to Puerto Rico was also launched, while Saint Thomas Rescue teams also responded with a boat, divers, and a drone to help in search.
A friend of Davaughn reportedly towed the vessel back to shore.
As the search continues, the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos will be arriving and searching throughout the night.
Anyone who may have information on this case may contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.
The search continues.