Verona – A 22 foot cabin cruiser vessel struck an object under the water on Oneida Lake near the Barge Canal and then sank early Sunday afternoon.

John Ready, 48 of Oneida, was operating the vessel on Oneida Lake near the Barge Canal and in the vicinity of the lighthouse when his vessel struck an unknown object under the water.  Ready's vessel then came to a rest on the object and started to take on water. 

Sylvan Beach Fire Department's water rescue boat responded to the vessel in distress and removed Ready and his two passengers, Henry Leo, 48, and Pauline Ingraham, 44, both of Verona, safely from the vessel.  All victims were then transported to the Emergency Wall of the Barge Canal in the Village of Sylvan Beach with no complaints of injury as a result of this accident. 

As the Oneida County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol Unit was investigating the accident, the vessel capsized and sank in 8-10 feet of water. 

This accident is still under investigation.

The Sheriff's Office requests all mariners exercise due care on the eastern end of Oneida Lake in the vicinity of the Barge Canal and the Verona Lighthouse for an overturned vessel and for submerged logs and stumps.