The humpback whale that recently washed ashore in Far Rockaway was likely killed by a boat, according to preliminary findings released by the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.

Biologists say the 33-foot female had a lot of bruising consistent with a vessel strike.

The agency says the whale was otherwise healthy.

News 12 is told the whale was swimming off the coast of New Jersey two days before beaching.

The whale was the third to wash up dead on Long Island in just a week.

Over a dozen other whales have died in the tri-state area this year.