Investigators Sunday continued to try to determine what caused the death of NYPD officer Patrick Luca, whose body was pulled from the Long Island Sound on Saturday.
Luca, 41, a 21-year-veteran of the force, and his son Caden, 5, had launched an inflatable kayak by the Nissequogue River on Friday. What happened next remains unclear, Suffolk police and U.S. Coast Guard officials said. Caden, who was wearing a life vest, was rescued by passing boaters on Friday.
Though there’s no official word on how the two ended up in the water, the boy told Coast Guards they fell overboard because of another boat’s wake, according to the New York Post.
"All we know is what the son told us," Coast Guard spokesman Mark Averill told the Post. "A boat came by and the boat's wake knocked them over."
Friday’s weather and wind were “calm,” but could still have played a role in causing an accident that lead to Luca’s death, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Erik Swanson. Coast Guard and Suffolk police officials could not confirm the Post report.
Luca's funeral arrangements won't be announced until the Suffolk medical examiner concludes an autopsy, the NYPD said. A spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s officer declined to comment Sunday.
Luca's wife and mother could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 5: Top football teams in action and Nassau soccer playoff picks Gregg Sarra sounds off on Wantagh vs. Bethpage and Ward Melville vs Sachem North, plus Michaeil Sicoli has his Nassau soccer picks, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 5: Top football teams in action and Nassau soccer playoff picks Gregg Sarra sounds off on Wantagh vs. Bethpage and Ward Melville vs Sachem North, plus Michaeil Sicoli has his Nassau soccer picks, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
