After a boat from Juneau sank near Skagway, dozens of hypodermic needles washed up on shore, said Skagway Fire Chief Joe Rau.
The call that the boat was sinking came in just before 7 a.m. Sunday, Rau said in an interview, and as of Tuesday flotsam from the ship was still being recovered at the Dyea Flats. That included needles, “suspicious substances” and more, according to a press release from the Municipality of Skagway.
“We’ve gotten a lot of boat debris from the cabin since it seems it was a live aboard,” Rau said.
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He said “it’s hard to say” what caused the boat to sink, and he understood it had problems in the past. Rau also said two people were aboard the boat at the time it began to sink, but no one was injured.
“The two people on board were rescued by us and brought back to the harbor,” Rau said. “That was our primary concern. We could deal with the boat later, and we have been.”
He said the man and woman each declined additional medical attention.
Needles, objects and suspicious substances began arriving on shore within hours of the incident, and the fire department has assisted with cleaning up the according to a release from the Municipality of Skagway. The police department and Coast Guard are working to remove the boat and ensure fuel pollution from the vessel is cleaned from the area.
Skagway Police Chief Ray Leggett did not return a call seeking comment, but an investigation into possible criminal activity is being conducted, according to the press release.
Since there is an ongoing investigation, photos of the boat and debris were not provided.
To share information or tips regarding any criminal activity, contact the Skagway Police Department at 983-2232.
Skagway police are also working with the Coast Guard to remove the boat and make sure oil and fuel pollution from the vessel is cleaned from the area.
• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.
