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ST. PETERSBURG - The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating why one of its rescue boats crashed into a sea wall Thursday near Albert Whitted Airport.
Three Coast Guard officers have been suspended, pending the inquiry, said Danielle DeMarino, Coast Guard spokeswoman.
"That's common practice for any kind of mishap," she said. "It's not like a punishment. It's saying we don't want them out there without finding out what went wrong."
Officers Stefanie Newman, 24, who was piloting the boat; Ray Johnson, 28; and Matthew Powell, 23; were treated for minor injuries and released from Bayfront Medical Center. They will undergo drug and alcohol screening, which is routine, DeMarino said.
The collision occurred about 5 a.m. when the three-member crew was returning from patrol on the 25-foot boat. Weather conditions were fine, DeMarino said.
She said the crew was turning into a channel when the boat hit the sea wall, damaging the bow.
DeMarino said she did not know how fast the boat was going and could not provide more details because of the investigation.