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SFPD Opens Investigation Into Deadly Farallones Yacht Crash

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – San Francisco Police investigators are now looking into this past weekend's fatal sailboat accident at the Farallon Islands. However, that does not necessarily mean there's suspicion that criminal or negligent activity lead to the accident.

The Farallon Islands might be more than 25 miles off the coast, but the San Francisco Police Department still has jurisdiction to investigate any accidents that occur there.

"We have specially trained officers that are part of the Major Accident Investigation Team, or MAIT, as well as inspectors in the Accident Investigations Bureau who are specially trained to investigate collisions," said Police Sergeant Michael Andraychak.

KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:

He said that Coast Guard helicopters have already taken officers out to survey the scene.

"The goal is to determine exactly what happened, and what caused the collision of the boat into the rocks, and the resulting deaths," said Andraychak.

The sailboat, Low Speed Chase, was hit by two waves Saturday during the Full Crew Farallones Race. Three of the eight crew members were rescued, a fourth was found dead, and four more remain missing.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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