A San Diego man was arrested after crashing his 65-foot vessel into the USS Midway and allegedly fleeing while under the influence.
Frank D’Anna, aged 40, was at the helm of his personal boat named the Offshore Lifestyle, when it collided directly with the port side of the decommissioned aircraft carrier shortly before 2 pm on Friday.
A viral video of the crash – captured by WarshipCam – shows the unbelievable moment the vessel collided with the historic warship in broad daylight.
D’Anna’s significantly smaller motor vessel can be seen approaching the monstrous aircraft carrier head-on before the destructive crash.
The private boat, reportedly operated by a captain under the influence, left a noticeable dent on the hull of the USS Midway. This historic ship now functions as a naval museum and is among the top tourist spots in San Diego.
The collision resulted in approximately $100,000 worth of damage, covering repainting and repairs to the ship’s corrosion prevention system, as stated by a spokesperson for the USS Midway to Fox News.
A 65-foot private vessel slammed into the USS Midway Museum ship prompting the arrest of a San Diego man for allegedly boating under the influence and fleeing the scene
A video of the crash – captured by WarshipCam and widely circulated on social media – shows the moment the vessel collided with the historic warship in broad daylight
Witnesses reported hearing a loud impact as they watched in horror near the popular ‘Unconditional Surrender’ statue – a landmark sculpture based on the famous World War II kissing photo – located just feet from the iconic aircraft carrier.
‘We received calls from several witnesses,’ officials said, adding that bystanders reported that the ‘impact was very loud.’
Despite the damage, no injuries were reported and the suspect’s vessel sustained only minor damage and was not at risk of sinking.
Authorities said the boat fled the scene following the collision but was intercepted in the San Diego Bay near the Coronado Ferry Landing.
The boat’s operator was later arrested after all seven individuals aboard the vessel were questioned by the police and identified D’Anna as the boat’s driver at the time of the crash.
He has since been charged with Boating Under the Influence, hit and run, and operating a vessel with a blood alcohol content over .08, according to authorities.
If convicted, D’Anna could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
D’Anna’s significantly smaller motor vessel can be seen approaching the monstrous aircraft carrier head-on before the destructive crash
The private vessel, allegedly manned by a liquored-up captain, left a visible dent in the hull of the USS Midway, which now serves as a floating naval museum and one of San Diego’s top tourist attractions
The shocking footage quickly went viral, drawing both concern and mockery online.
‘You can’t park here sir,’ one user quipped.
Another joked: ‘Your Honor, the Midway pulled right out in front of me.’
The damaging crash has also raised concerns among locals and tourists about maritime safety.
‘I mean it’s sad,’ James Hickson, a downtown resident of the iconic Southern California city, told 10News.
‘If drunk driving is the case, it’s pretty sad that you would make that decision to put a lot of folks in danger.’
Jagjit Bhambra, a Navy veteran visiting the Midway, questioned how such an incident could happen in daylight.
‘I think we need to examine who was the captain of the little boat, why was he so close, how he did not notice such a massive ship in front of him,’ Bhambra said.
His wife, Mary Bhambra, suggested security upgrades may be warranted.
Named after the pivotal June 1942 Battle of Midway, the USS Midway was built in just 17 months and commissioned on September 10, 1945, just one week after World War II ended. Pictured: The USS Midway Museum a the ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ World Premiere on May 4, 2022 in San Diego, California
‘It’s a famous ship. Maybe a fence around it or something like that… a lookout for approaching hazards,’ she said.
The Port of San Diego and USS Midway Museum have not issued additional public statements as the investigation remains ongoing.
The USS Midway is one of the most iconic features of San Diego Harbor, attracting millions of visitors annually.
Named after the pivotal June 1942 Battle of Midway, the USS Midway was built in just 17 months and commissioned on September 10, 1945, just one week after World War II ended.
As the lead ship in a three-carrier class, it featured an armored flight deck and carried up to 120 aircrafts.
