Boston, MA Crash Report: Boston Harbor Pier 4R Fatal Boat Crash

May 15, 2026 | Boston

Report ID: May 14, 2026

NCIC#: Unknown

Officer ID#: Unknown

Traffic Unit 1: Recreational boat (Freedom Boat Club vessel)

Occupants: 4 — one 40-year-old male operator (Lawrence Shieh) and three women, including Elizabeth “Lizzie” Dankert, 24, of Andover, MA, and two unidentified women

Injuries/Fatalities: One fatality — Elizabeth “Lizzie” Dankert, 24, pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital; three others transported to Mass General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

Vehicle Damage: Significant damage to recreational boat

Property Damage: Unknown

Road Surface: Water — Boston Harbor

Manner of Impact: Recreational boat struck Pier 4R at Logan International Airport

Pedestrian/Cyclist Location: N/A

Narrative

On the night of Wednesday, May 14, 2026, just after 11:00 p.m., a recreational boat crashed into Pier 4R on Boston Harbor near Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. The vessel, identified as belonging to Freedom Boat Club in the Seaport District, was reportedly taken without authorization by 40-year-old Lawrence Shieh, who was operating the boat well after the club had closed for the day.

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Dankert, 24, of Andover, Massachusetts — a Union College graduate and former college soccer player — was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital following the crash. Three other occupants, including Shieh and two unidentified women, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Boston EMS, Massport Fire, Massachusetts State Police, and Environmental Police responded to the scene, extricting all four patients from rocks along the shoreline in darkness and difficult conditions.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by State Police assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office; no charges have been filed as of the time of this report. Full details are developing.

When a loved one is lost in a fatal watercraft or vehicle collision, families are often left with unanswered questions and significant legal burdens. If you lost someone in a crash like this one, understanding the official record is a critical first step. Survivors and family members may get their free crash report to help navigate insurance claims, legal consultations, and wrongful death proceedings.

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