On Saturday night, a boat operator manning a 23-foot boat on the Intracoastal Waterway struck an illuminated channel marker, causing one of the five passengers onboard to sustain serious head injuries.
The man who suffered injuries in the boating accident was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center by helicopter. According to investigators, the 21-year-old boat operator fled the scene of the crash and has yet to be located. Police believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.
One other passenger sustained minor injuries, but police remain uncertain whether or not the boat operator was injured. He did not own the boat, which authorities have kept as evidence. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is still investigating the accident.
Any time a boat takes passengers out on the open ocean, the operator must be keenly aware of their environment and the potential danger of a collision. Boat crashes can not only seriously injure passengers, they can cause boats to sink – and injured passengers are often unable to swim. Florida statutes warn boat operators that they should “exercise the highest degree of care in order to prevent injury to others,” and that they should not operate their vessels in a reckless manner – especially not under the influence of alcohol.
If you have been injured in a boating accident in Florida because of someone else’s recklessness or negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact the experienced boating accident attorneys at Hardesty, Tyde, Green, & Ashton, PA today to schedule your free consultation.
