‘Beloved' NYC engineer ID'd as man killed in freak sewage boat blast on the Hudson, DEP says
The city worker killed in a freak raw sewage boat explosion on the Hudson River has been identified as a 'beloved' veteran New York City Department of Environmental Protection engineer.
Raymond Feige, 59, died when the sludge vessel blew up at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility near 135th Street in Upper Manhattan on Saturday morning.
The blast threw Feige, a chief marine diesel engineer, into the water — trapping him between the boat and pier, authorities said.
It's still not clear what caused the blast, and investigators are continuing to work the case.
'Ray was a respected engineer and a steady, beloved colleague who will be deeply missed,' DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala said in a statement.
'For more than three decades he worked at DEP in a job that is largely unseen by most New Yorkers but is critical to keeping the city running, and we are grateful for service. Please continue to keep Ray's family and colleagues in your thoughts during this difficult time.'
Feige had spent his entire DEP career working in the marine section, department officials said, adding that it was 'his home away from home.'
'His bond with his shipmates and love of working on the water kept him committed to the fleet for more than three decades,' a DEP spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, two other DEP employees who were working on the vessel with Feige were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment after Saturday's blast, authorities said.
Their identities or conditions weren't immediately known.
The boat, which was docked when the explosion ripped through its hull, had been hauling raw sewage from the city to treatment facility at the time.
The US Coast Guard said there were no reports of pollution spilling into the river in the wake of the explosion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
DMV Scam Texts Target Multiple States. What You Must Know
A person prepares to enter a New York State DMV on April 28, 2025 in New York City. Credit - Michael M. Santiago—2025 Getty Images Authorities and Department of Motor Vehicles offices (DMVs) officials across multiple U.S. states have released advisories to their citizens to look out for scam texts that are attempting to manipulate drivers into paying a fake 'outstanding toll.' The prevalence of the text scams ramped up throughout May, leading to various states issuing warnings and advice, ultimately telling members of the public to watch out for messages claiming to be from the DMV. 'These scammers flood phones with these texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting New Yorkers into handing over their personal information,' said New York DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder in an press release. 'DMV will not send you texts asking for your personal information.' Here's what you need to know about the DMV scam texts and how you can best protect yourself: The spam texts have spanned across the United States, with Illinois, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, and California among the states that have issued alerts. Though their advisories differ, all authority boards have made clear that the DMV does not, and will not, send customers unsolicited requests for payments and personal information. In Illinois, Secretary of State Alexander Giannoulias issued a stark warning, stating that the Illinois DMV will only send out text messages for appointment reminders. 'Phishing scams are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent threat in our modern society, seeking to cheat Illinoisans out of their personal information and hard-earned money,' Giannoulias said. In Florida, the state DMV has created a webpage to alert drivers about the scam, reminding locals that the FLDMV 'will never contact you via text message demanding payment or threatening suspension or arrest.' Some local police and civic associations in states like New York and New Jersey have posted warnings across social media, too. The Warren Township Police Department in New Jersey shared a notice on Facebook on May 31, alerting locals of the 'recent increase' in the scam texts. According to screenshot examples placed on government websites, the texts vary state-by-state, but they tend to include a warning that if the recipient does not pay an outstanding traffic ticket, they will encounter a penalty. Recipients are told they could lose their vehicle registration or driving privileges, potentially see a toll booth charge increase, see their credit score impacted, or even risk prosecution. Some of the websites—the "click here" links—listed in the text messages include terms mirroring '.gov' in an effort to appear legitimate. In New Jersey, many of the scam messages have included links involving variations of "ezpassnj." 'New Jersey State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30,' one spam text circulating New Jersey stated, according to a screenshot shared in a warning by the City of Linden. The scam message continued: 'Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket… Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license dispensation and further legal disputes.' The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a website with consumer advice, which suggests various steps people can take to protect themselves from text message scams. First, those who receive the text can copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM), which could allow your provider to 'block similar messages in the future.' People can also report it to the FTC directly on the government website. In general, the DMVs of these multiple states advise their citizens to be cautious of all communications they receive, even if those messages come from claimed 'trusted sources,' and to never send personal and sensitive information via text or email. In its public notice, the Warren Township Police Department advised recipients of the text scam to follow four key steps: Delete the message immediately Do NOT click any links or provide any information Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at If you're unsure about your DMV status, visit the official DMV website directly or contact them by phone Generally speaking, scammers are known for creating a sense of urgency, often giving a deadline or listing serious consequences—such as the loss of driving privileges, in this case—in order to prompt a swift response from victims. David Brumley, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told TIME in 2024 that the best way to protect yourself from scams is to be alert and, if you are unsure if a text is legitimate, call the department or business directly to confirm, before taking any further action. Murat Kantarcioglu, a professor of computer science at Virginia Tech, told TIME earlier this year that people should also make sure they are informing their older relatives of any prevalent scams, as they may be less tech-savvy and more vulnerable. 'I think everyone should make it their mission to educate the older people in their family about these issues,' said Kantarcioglu, adding that it's best not to answer text messages from unverified senders or engage in phone conversations with people you don't know. Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Fake DMV texts are scamming residents in NJ, NY: How to avoid them
The Brief Scammers are impersonating DMVs in multiple states including New York and New Jersey—using fake texts to steal personal and financial information. Check Point researchers uncovered a large, fast-moving phishing operation involving hundreds of spoofed DMV websites that mimic official government portals. The FBI hasn't issued a specific alert yet, but experts warn the scam is highly convincing and urge people to avoid clicking links in unexpected DMV-related texts. NEW YORK - People in the Tri-State Area are urged to stay alert as a wave of scam texts pretending to come from the Department of Motor Vehicles spreads. This is the latest in a series of text message phishing schemes that DMV has warned New Yorkers to avoid. Previous scams have claimed that E-ZPass accounts were about to be suspended. What we know According to Check Point, a global cyber security company, the scam is part of a broader, coordinated phishing campaign targeting drivers across multiple states. What it says The messages warn drivers of unpaid fees for traffic violations and threaten steep penalties, including additional fines and suspension of driving privileges if the reader does not comply. But these texts are not from any official body. Check Point researchers traced the attack to hundreds of fake websites designed to mimic official DMV portals in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, California, and Illinois. The scam texts usually claim a license is about to be suspended or a renewal deadline has passed. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is warning customers to be wary of the latest phishing scam, where bad actors seek to gain access to personal information by pretending to be from the DMV. A link in the message takes users to a site where they are asked to input personal details, often including driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, and credit card information. So far, the FBI has not released a specific warning tied to this campaign, though it has previously flagged government impersonation scams as a growing threat. Here's a sharper, more reader-friendly version of your "How to protect yourself" section — concise, clear, and with stronger callouts for action: According to the New York State Department of Information Technology Services, people should treat any unsolicited message with caution, especially ones posing as trusted agencies. Avoid clicking unknown links, don't email sensitive info, and always check the URL before sharing anything. Do not click links in texts claiming to be from the DMV. Visit the official site ( to verify any notices. Watch for red flags like urgent language, unfamiliar links, and spelling errors. Never share personal info by text or email. Legit agencies won't ask for it. Report scam texts to your state DMV and at Limit what you post online. The less criminals know, the less they can use. When in doubt, don't click. Always double-check suspicious messages.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Former EastEnders star Joe Absolom joins Emmerdale cast
Former EastEnders actor Joe Absolom is to join the cast of Emmerdale. The 46-year-old will play Ray, an old contact of Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), in the ITV soap, having previously played Matthew Rose in BBC soap EastEnders from 1997 to 2000. ITV says Ray will arrive at the farm claiming to be selling farm machinery, but it is not long before his true drug-dealing ways become clear. Absolom said of his new role: 'Well, what an honour to join such a talented team at Emmerdale. It's an iconic show and I'm grateful to be part of it. I can't wait to see what's in stock for Ray.' ITV says Absolom's character will have a 'calm and collected exterior' with a hidden 'menacing streak'. Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said: 'We are thrilled to welcome Joe Absolom to the cast. It's fantastic to have such a high-calibre and immensely talented actor join our wonderful team to play the role of Ray. 'Charming, charismatic and effortlessly likeable, Ray is an extremely complex character who very quickly shows his dark and villainous side to some of our most loved villagers, leaving them in no doubt as to what he's capable of.' The actor also appeared as Al Large in the ITV comedy drama Doc Martin between 2004 and 2022, and most recently played the role of Braden Moore in Code of Silence. It comes after ITV announced it was to air its first ever crossover between Coronation Street and Emmerdale, with fans able to vote for the characters they would like to see meet and interact. The hour-long crossover episode will air in January 2026 as ITV and STV announce a new hour of soap schedule, which will see half hour Emmerdale episodes air at 8pm, followed by 30-minute episodes of Coronation Street at 8.30pm. Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV1 and STV, or from 7am on ITVX and STV Player.
