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Date: December
27, 2005
County: Franklin
Body of Water:
Ochlocknee River, Womak Creek
Victims(s): 1
On December 27, 2005 the victim’s vessel was found
on the Ochlocknee River running in circles. The victim was on the
river deer hunting from a 14’ jonboat in the area of Womack Creek in
Franklin County. After the victims boat was found emergency
personnel were notified and responded. Subsequently the victim was
recovered a short distance from where the boat was found going in
circles. The Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning.
The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date:
December 10, 2005
County: Lake
County
Body of
Water: St. Johns River
Victim(s): 1
On the above
date two vessels were being operated on plane heading South on the
St. Johns River in Lake County. The two vessels involved were a
18-foot Skip Jack (V-1) and a 18-foot Fish & Bay (V-2). Both
vessels were attempting to stop a larger vessel that was headed
South on the river. V-1 slowed and made an abrupt turn to the
left. V-2 impacted the left side of V-1, ramped and launched over
it. Both operators of the vessels were ejected into the water.
Operator of V-1 received trauma that resulted in his death.
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Date:
December 2, 2005
County:
Seminole County
Body of
Water: Lake Fairy
Victim(s): 1
On the above
date, three adult females were cruising on Lake Fairy in a 22-foot
cuddy cabin. The lake is located in Seminole County. According to
a witness, one passenger appeared to stand up and fall backwards
overboard into the water. The occupants located the passenger’s
body with a flashlight at the bottom of the lake in seven feet of
water. The operator marked the location with a GPS and returned to
the dock to call for emergency assistance. The victim was recovered
by law enforcement upon their arrival.
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Date:
December 1, 2005
County: Polk
County
Body of
Water: Lake Easy
Victim(s): 2
On December 1,
2005, the two victims went fishing on Lake Easy in Polk County. The
boat they were fishing out of was a 12-foot jonboat powered by a
portable trolling motor and battery. The victims were last seen
fishing in the middle of the lake around 8:00 p.m. When the victims
did not return home, the family went to the lake and located the
truck they had traveled to the lake in at the boat ramp. They
contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Department who then responded.
The Sheriff’s Department aircraft located both victims floating in
the water on the East side of the lake. The boat was partially
submerged next to the victims’ bodies. The victims were both
wearing life jackets. One victim was 79 and the other victim was
73.
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Date:
November 30, 2005
County:
Wakulla County
Body of
Water: St. Marks River
Victim(s): 1
On November
30, 2005, the victim left St. Marks public boat launch for a day of
fishing on the St. Marks River in Wakulla County. The victim was
fishing out of a 14-foot aluminum jonboat. Around 3:00 p.m. FWC
dispatch was notified that a boat was found in the St. Marks River
running in circles with no one on board. FWC officers were
dispatched to the scene and a search was started. Two witnesses
gave a description of the clothes the operator was wearing which
included blue jeans, heavy grey jacket, gloves and large black
rubber boots. These witnesses helped the victim launch his boat and
stated that he had mentioned he had a cast net and he intended to
cast the net for bait fish. A cooler and a broken seat were located
floating down river from where the runaway boat was located. The
victim was located deceased on December 6, 2005, by FWC aircraft.
The victim was not wearing a life jacket. Preliminary autopsy
reports from the medical examiner ruled the death was caused by
drowning.
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Date: November
17, 2005
County: Pinellas
County
Body of Water:
Anclote River
Victim(s): 1
On November
17, 2005, a jonboat was traveling west on the Anclote River around
8:00 p.m. in
Pinellas County. The boat was being operated on plane with an
operator and three passengers. The vessel collided with a
residential dock that extended into the river. One of the passengers
was killed as a result of the accident. Preliminary information
indicates alcohol may be a factor in the accident.
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Date: November
17, 2005
County: Pinellas
County
Body of Water:
Safety Harbor
Victim(s): 1
On November
17, 2005, the owner/operator of a canoe departed from the Philippe
Park Boat Ramp in Pinellas County around 1:30 p.m. The canoe was
found capsized around three miles to the south of the boat ramp
along the Courtney Campbell Causeway. The canoe drifted unoccupied
and did not capsize until rough sea conditions pushed the canoe back
onto the rocks. This account was verified by witnesses. The body
of the victim was found on November 20, 2005. The owner/operator was
not wearing a life jacket. The cause of death was determined to be
drowning.
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Date: November
12, 2005
County: Madison
Body of Water:
Private Lake
Victim(s): 1
On November
12, 2005, the owner/operator was fishing from a 14-foot aluminum
jonboat in a private lake located in Madison County. The operator
returned to his truck and then went back out fishing. Shortly after
he was back out on the pond, witnesses stated they heard splashing
in the water. The operator had been fishing alone and was not
wearing a life jacket.
He disappeared under the water before rescuers could arrive. The
vessel was not overturned and contained fishing equipment, bait, a
life jacket, and two lawn chairs straddling the built-in bench seats
of the jonboat. There was a winter coat on the forward chair where
the victim had been fishing from. Witness stated he usually wore
his life jacket while fishing because he did not know how to swim.
The cause of death was determined to be drowning.
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Date: November
11, 2005
County: Palm
Beach
Body of Water:
ICW at Marker #40, East of the Lantana Bridge
Victim(s): 1
On November
11, 2005, the operator and two occupants left a restaurant in Boyton
Beach heading north on the ICW around 8:15 p.m. The vessel they
were traveling in was a 15-foot center console Key West. The vessel
collided with a channel marker and all three occupants were ejected,
after which the vessel continued underway unoccupied. The operator
suffered minor injuries and the female occupant sitting beside him
sustained fatal injuries. The other occupant was uninjured. They
were rescued by a jet skier and another passing boat. The
unoccupied boat continued south and struck several docks before
coming to rest at a dock in Lantana.
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Date: November
8, 2005
County: Palm
Beach
Body of Water:
Atlantic Ocean – NE of the Hillsborough Inlet about 6 miles offshore
Victim(s): 1
Two occupants on
V1 went on a fishing trip out of the Hillsborough Inlet. V1 was
trolling about 6 miles offshore when it was swamped by two large
waves. V1 sank and the two occupants were able to retrieve life
jackets and remain afloat. The two subjects remained afloat
together for some time before they became separated. One of the
occupants was rescued by a Good Samaritan. The other occupant
remains missing.
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Date: November
6, 2005
County: Columbia
Body of Water:
Santa Fe River
Victim(s): 1
On November 6,
2005, the owner/operator of a 14-foot jonboat left the river bank of
the Santa Fe River in Union County. Witnesses state he lost control
of his boat and was ejected from the vessel. They stated he
surfaced from the water and started swimming towards the bank, but
went underwater and never surfaced again. The Union County Fire
Department located his body in the general area where witness saw
him go under. The victim was not wearing a life jacket. An autopsy
revealed the cause of death was drowning.
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Date: October
30, 2005
County: Franklin
County
Body of Water:
Ochlocknee River
Victim(s): 1
On October 30,
2005, FWC was notified of an overdue boater at 11:00 p.m. The
boater had departed from the Highway 98 bridge boat ramp earlier in
the day. The boater’s vessel was found north of the Highway 98
bridge by FWC aircraft on October 31, 2005. All fishing equipment
and related materials including safety equipment were in place
inside the boat. The victim’s body was located on November 2. An
autopsy determined the cause of death to be drowning. The victim
was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: October
17, 2005
County: Volusia
Body of Water:
Private Pond
Victim(s): 1
On October 17,
2005, two adult males were sharing the operation of a vessel while
attempting maintenance of its outboard motor in a private pond in
Volusia County. While on the small two-to-three acre pond, they
were operating the vessel in circles which resulted in crossing
their wake repeatedly. Ultimately, crossing a wake pitched their
vessel to the right side, ejecting both occupants into the water.
The vessel continued circling before it ran into the shoreline. The
two men began swimming toward the shoreline which was about 50 yards
away. One of the men disappeared underwater about 40 feet from the
shore. His body was later recovered. An autopsy revealed the cause
of death was drowning. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: October
16, 2005
County: Orange
Body of Water:
Lake Susannah
Victim(s): 1
On October 16,
2005, around 8:30 a.m., the victim and passenger were positioned
about 20 feet from the shoreline in a canoe on Lake Susannah in
Orange County. They both stood up in the canoe and lost their
balance which caused the canoe to capsize forcing both subjects into
the water. The passenger swam to the shore and turned around and
noticed the victim struggling in the water. The passenger observed
the victim go under water and that was the last time he saw him.
The passenger then swam to the last place he saw him and attempted
to locate him under the water. He then flagged down another boater
who called “911”. The Orlando Fire Department responded and located
the victim’s body around 10:20 a.m. The cause of death was
determined to be drowning. The victim was not wearing a life
jacket.
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Date: October
14, 2005
County: Orange
Body of Water:
Lake Apopka
Victim(s): 1
On October 14,
2005, the victim took a 1985 Shadow bass boat for a test ride on
Lake Apopka in Orange County. The victim left the Magnolia Park
boat ramp around 10:30 a.m. A
friend went to the boat ramp looking for the victim, but only found
his vehicle with an empty boat trailer. The friend contacted
another individual who helped begin a search of the lake. They
found the boat capsized in the middle of the lake with no one in
it. At this point they contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s
Department. The victim’s body was found floating in Lake Apopka on
October 16, 2005, at 8:59 a.m. The cause of death was determined to
be drowning. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: October 5,
2005
County: Gadsden
Body of Water:
Apalachicola River
Victim(s): 1
On October 5,
2005, an 11-foot open-hull aluminum boat was found capsized on the
Apalachicola River in Gadsden County. The boat belonged to an
elderly gentleman from Jackson County. His whereabouts could not be
determined and his vehicle and boat trailer were parked at the boat
ramp. During the search of the river, the victim’s fishing license
and tackle box were found floating. His body was discovered the
following day around 6:30 a.m. by another fisherman. The cause of
death was determined to be drowning. The victim was not wearing his
life jacket.
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Date: October 2,
2005
County: Taylor
Body of Water:
Gulf of Mexico
Victim(s): 2
On Saturday,
October 1, 2005, two individuals launched a 1987, 15-foot Glasstream
bass boat at Peterson Landing in Taylor County. The two men were
going fishing in the Rock Island area. The men were due in Saturday
afternoon but never showed up. The wife of one of the missing men
contacted Taylor County S/O. Around 10:30 p.m., Taylor County S/O
notified FWC dispatch of the situation. A search was initiated, but
had to be called off until Sunday morning due to hazardous weather
conditions. The search continued through Tuesday evening with FWC,
USCG, and Taylor County S/O participating. The bodies of the two
victims were eventually located. The cause of death was determined
to be drowning. Neither of the victims was wearing a life jacket.
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Date: September
29, 2005
County: St.
Lucie
Body of Water:
Fort Pierce Inlet
Victim(s): 1
On September
29, 2005, two individuals were fishing out of a 1988, 17-foot center
console Wellcraft, one mile north of the Fort Pierce Inlet in St.
Lucie County. They had anchored the boat in a position where both
of them were facing the beach while fishing. A wave swamped the
boat and filled it with water causing the passenger to fall out of
the boat. The operator was unable to throw the victim a PFD. He
was able to get the anchor up and by the time he got the boat turned
around the victim had disappeared. The body was later discovered,
and the cause of death was determined to be drowning. The victim
was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: September
24,
2005
County: Leon
Body of Water:
Piney Z Lake
Victim(s): 1
On September
24, 2005, the victim was fishing from a 10-foot jonboat on Lake
Piney Z in Leon County. When the victim did not return home, the
family contacted the Leon County Sheriff’s Department and FWC. A
search of the lake led to the discovery of the victim’s body.
Preliminary information indicates the victim fell overboard.
The victim was
over six feet tall and weighed over 300 pounds, which made the small
boat very unstable. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was
drowning. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: September
20, 2005
County: Polk
Body of Water:
Phosphate Mine Pit
(Commercial)
Victim(s): 2
On September
20, 2005, the two victims were conducting aquatic weed control at a
phosphate mine pit near Bartow, Florida. They were conducting these
operations out of an 11-foot homemade airboat. After attempts to
contact them by telephone failed, a co-owner of
the business arrived at the pit to find the airboat mostly submerged
and no signs of the victims. Search by aircraft, ground, and marine
units failed to locate them. The bodies of the two victims were
located the next day. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was
drowning. Neither of the two victims was wearing a life jacket.
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Date: September
18, 2005
County:
Miami-Dade
Body of Water:
Atlantic Ocean
Victim(s): 1
On September
18, 2005, the female victim was bow riding on a 1995, 25-foot Four
Winns pleasure boat on the Atlantic Ocean in Miami-Dade County. The
boat struck a wave and she fell over the port left bow. The bow
rail broke as she attempted to hold on. The operator of the boat
turned the wheel to starboard and placed the throttles in neutral.
The operator advised investigators he felt the boat and motor hit
the deceased. He also advised she had a pulse, and he held her head
above the water as he swam her back to the boat. The victim died as
a result of the injuries she received from the boating accident.
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Date: September
18, 2005
County: Orange
Body of Water:
Lake Roberts
Victim(s): 1
On September
18, 2005, around 5:18 p.m., a personal watercraft (PWC) was
traveling westbound along the south shoreline of Lake Roberts toward
a dock in Orange County. The victim of this accident was standing
on the dock with other family members as the vessel approached.
Several witnesses stated the vessel was coming towards them at a
high rate of speed and slowed slightly as it came closer. The PWC
subsequently impacted the lower decking of the dock (just below the
water line) causing the bow of the PWC to rise upward. The PWC then
hit the upper decking of the dock as it continued forward. The PWC
then left the water, landing on top of the dock as it struck the
victim. The victim sustained extensive head injuries. The victim,
a two-year-old male, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the
hospital.
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Date:
September 12, 2005
County:
Indian River
Body of
Water: Indian River at the Wabasso Relief Bridge
Victim(s): 1
On September
12, 2005, around 4:00 p.m., a 20-foot center console Sportscraft was
traveling southbound on plane in the ICW channel near the County
Road 510 causeway in Indian River County. The vessel’s operator
turned westerly toward the middle span of the CR 510 relief bridge.
On approaching the bridge, the operator slowed the vessel slightly
and attempted to go under the bridge. The vessel’s T-Top struck the
bridge beam, causing the center console to pull loose from the deck,
and forced the console and T-Top toward the stern of the vessel.
The operator was ejected into the water. A passenger unsuccessfully
attempted to locate the operator. The Vessel occupant suffered a
possible broken nose and a cut to his elbow and lower leg. The body
of the operator was recovered and an autopsy revealed the cause of
death was drowning.
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Date: September
11, 2005
County: Duval
Body of Water:
Atlantic Ocean
Victim(s): 1
On September
11, 2005, in Duval County two PWC’s were being operated with one
behind the other. The lead PWC made a sudden and tight left turn
that put him in line for a head on collision with the trailing PWC.
The trailing PWC rode up and over the victim’s PWC, and the impact
from the collision knocked the victim off the lead PWC. The victim
sustained a fatal injury to his head.
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Date: September
10, 2005
County: Broward
Body of Water:
Dania Pier,
Atlantic Ocean
Victim(s): 1
On
September 10, 2005, two divers were snorkeling three-quarters of a
mile offshore just south of the Dania Pier in Broward County. An
unknown vessel struck one of the divers. The divers did have a dive
flag deployed, but it was not to regulation size. Injuries were
extensive and the victim died. The boat operator did not stop and
has yet to be identified.
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Date: August 30,
2005
County: Polk
Body of Water:
Surveyor’s Lake
Victim(s) 1
The victim called
a friend to advise him that he was at the boat ramp waiting. Both
subjects were to go fishing. Upon the friend’s arrival the truck
was found running and the boat was on the far side of the lake.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office was notified and a search by aviation,
ground, and marine units did not locate the individual. The victim
was found floating 1,000 yards away from the boat ramp. The Medical
Examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning. The victim was not
wearing a life jacket.
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Date: August 29,
2005
County: Lee
Body of Water:
San Carlos Bay
Victim(s): 1
On August 29,
2005, a Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call of an
abandoned sailboard in the vicinity of the Sanibel Causeway toll
booth in Lee County. While on scene he received a call of a body
floating in the same area. It was determined that the sailboard was
being operated in heavy weather and the victim was not wearing a
life jacket. The Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death to be
drowning.
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Date: August 26,
2005
County: Duval
Body of Water:
Durbin Creek
Victim(s): 1
On August 25,
2005, at 10:00 p.m. the operator and wife (occupant) were tied
alongside two other vessels in Durbin Creek in Duval County. The
operator had a portable generator tied to the bow of his vessel.
The operator was attempting to refuel the generator when he slipped
on the bow. Witnesses stated they heard a “thud” sound suggesting
the operator struck the adjacent vessel. One of the occupants of
the adjacent vessel attempted to locate the victim in the water, but
was unsuccessful. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue divers arrived on
the scene at 1:15 a.m. and recovered the victim’s body. Alcohol may
be a factor in the accident.
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Date: August 15,
2005
County:
Miami-Dade
Body of Water:
Haulover Inlet
Victim(s): 1
On August 15,
2005, two men were aboard a 17-foot Dusky center console boat. They
were heading east out of Haulover Inlet in Miami-Dade County. The
vessel took waves over the bow and ultimately capsized, ejecting the
victim and his son. The victim was held by his son until a Bal
Harbor Police vessel arrived. The victim was taken aboard the
vessel and was unresponsive. The victim was transported to the
hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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Date: August 13,
2005
County: Pinellas
Body of Water:
Boca Ciega Bay
Victim(s): 1
On August 13,
2005, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a 17-foot Archer Craft (V1) and
32-foot Proline (V2) were traveling south in Boca Ciega Bay in the
area of the Gulf Port Pier in Pinellas County. The front left side
of V1 collided with the right front side of V2. The operator of V2
stopped the vessel and attempted to search for the victim in the
water to no avail, but was able to retrieve the victim’s dog from
the water unharmed. V2’s operator and passenger received no
injuries. V1 sank to the bottom of Boca Ciega Bay approximately 500
yards to the west of Gulf Port Pier. The victim sustained a head
injury which contributed to his drowning on scene. The victim was
not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: August 6,
2005
County: Polk
Body of Water:
Lake Alfred
Victim(s): 1
On August 6,
2005, the victim’s vessel was traveling on plane across the middle
of Lake Alfred in Polk County. The occupant was sitting on a seat
in the rear of the vessel looking backwards. For reasons unknown at
this time, the vessel made an immediate right turn, ejecting both
the operator and occupant. Neither was wearing a life jacket. The
passenger noticed the victim floating face down for a brief moment
before he went under. Other persons nearby noticed the vessel still
running in circles and came to assist. The victim was found
floating by aircraft at 7:00 a.m. the following morning. The victim
had what appeared to be propeller cuts across his back and head.
The Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as trauma.
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Date: August 6,
2005
County: Citrus
Body of Water:
Marker #14, Crystal River Channel
Victim(s): 1
On August 6,
2005, a 21-foot center console boat with operator and passengers was
returning from a scalloping trip in the Gulf of Mexico in the
Crystal River Channel located in Citrus County. During the trip,
the vessel collided with Channel Marker 14. The victim was thrown
from the vessel prior to or on impact with the marker piling and
went under water. The victim did not surface. Citrus County SO and
FWC responded to the area. The victim’s body was recovered around
5:25 p.m. about 65-70 feet from the marker. Alcohol may be a factor
in the accident. The cause of death was ruled to be drowning. The
victim was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: August 1,
2005
County: Monroe
Body of Water:
Atlantic Ocean, at Long Key Bridge
(Commercial)
Victim(s): 1
On August 1,
2005, the commercial fishing vessel “Mainly Lobster” was setting
lobster traps in the water, oceanside of the Long Key Bridge. The
vessel went through a small wake which rocked it side to side
slightly, and the first mate fell overboard portside along with a
lobster trap. The first mate was not entangled with the lobster
trap line, and he attempted to stay afloat but was unable. A life
ring was thrown near him but he did not attempt to get it, and the
vessel came around to pick him up as he started to go down. Another
mate jumped into the water and pulled the first mate out before he
reached the bottom. He was unresponsive and was brought into the
vessel, and CPR was started. United States Coast Guard, Monroe
County SO, and FWC were notified. The first mate was pronounced
dead by the medical examiner on shore and the cause of death was
drowning. The first mate was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: July 31,
2005
County: Martin
Body of Water:
Stuart Sandbar
Victim(s): 1
On July 31,
2005, a 21-foot Checkmate and a PWC left the Stuart sandbar and
headed to the manatee pocket in Martin County. Both operators were
attempting to spray each other and the PWC cut in front of the
Checkmate. The Checkmate struck the PWC, killing the victim upon
impact.
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Date: July 29,
2005
County: Monroe
Body of Water:
Garrison Bight
Victim(s) 1
V1 was inbound
when the high water alarm sounded. The captain went below deck to
check the float switch. The captain became entangled in the
propeller shaft by his hair and died from his injuries.
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Date: July 23,
2005
County: Osceola
Body of Water:
Lake Tohopekaliga
Victim(s): 1
On July 23,
2005, three individuals were fishing at Lanier Point on the west
side of Lake Tohopekaliga in Osceola County. They left the area and
were headed south in a 17’-foot Nitro bass boat traveling about 35
MPH. The operator observed a velcro strap that was not fastened
around the shaft of the trolling motor on the bow of the vessel. He
left the helm and tried to fasten the velcro strap. The vessel
turned 90 degrees to starboard, ejecting the operator and striking
him with the outboard motor. The victim was recovered by the other
two passengers in the boat and was transported to a private boat
ramp. Fire and Rescue responded and transported the victim to the
hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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Date: July 18,
2005
County: Polk
Body of Water:
Lake Tracy
Victim(s): 1
On July 18,
2005, a PWC was seen leaving the dock from the victim’s residence on
Lake Tracy in Polk County. The operator of the PWC was not wearing
a life jacket. Other family members observed the victim a few
minutes later in the water swimming towards the PWC. The family
members got into a paddle boat and tried to help him, but lost sight
of him after a brief search. The PWC was located down wind (north)
from where the victim was last seen. The Polk County Sheriff’s
Department Marine Unit responded and started a search of the lake.
The victim’s body was later recovered and the cause of death was
determined to be drowning.
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Date: July 6,
2005
County:
Hillsborough
Body of Water:
Turkey Creek Reservoir (Medard Park)
Victim(s): 1
On July 6,
2005, the victim left his residence around 4:00 a.m. to go fishing
at Medard Park in Hillsborough County. He launched his 14-foot
jonboat around 7:00 a.m. Between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. he fell
from his vessel into the water approximately one and a half miles
southeast of the boat ramp. Around 9:30 a.m. his empty boat was
found by a passing fisherman near the shore line. When the
fisherman attempted to leave the area, his vessel dislodged the
victim’s submerged body, which floated to the surface about 50 feet
from the vessel. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office dive team
responded and recovered the body and vessel. The victim was not
wearing a life jacket.
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Date: July 6,
2005
County: Hernando
Body of Water:
Byster Lake
Victim(s): 1
On July 6,
2005, FWC responded to a single vessel PWC accident on Byster Lake
in Hernando County. Preliminary information indicates the victim
went out on Lake Byster operating a PWC without wearing life a
jacket. The victim was negotiating a right hand turn and fell off
the PWC, subsequently drowning while attempting to swim back to the
PWC. The events were witnessed by a roommate who was watching from
the shoreline. Alcohol may be a factor in the accident.
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Date: July 5,
2005
County:
Washington
Body of Water:
Big Blue Lake
Victim(s): 2
On July 5,
2005, around 5:30 p.m. two men and one woman were fishing in Big
Blue Lake in Washington County. Around 7:30 p.m. a call came into
Washington County 911 from a woman stating her husband and
father-in-law had fallen out of a boat while fishing and drowned.
The caller did not know the location and left the phone before a
deputy could contact her. FWC responded with a vessel. Deputies
subsequently located the lake after the property manager was
contacted. The boat was located in an area of Big Blue Lake that
was remote and difficult to reach by vehicle and boat. Throwable
life preservers were found floating near the jonboat along with
other fishing tackle. One of the victims was located on July 5 and
the other on July 6. The three were fishing from a 12-foot open
jonboat. The two victims were father and son and the female
survivor was married to the son. The cause of death was determined
to be drowning. Neither of the two victims was wearing a life
jacket.
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Date: July 3,
2005
County: Monroe
Body of Water:
Boot Key
Victim(s): 1
On July 3,
2005, a female victim fell out of a 10-foot inflatable while
traveling through Boot Key in Monroe County. The victim was the
owner/operator of the boat. According to witnesses, the victim was
very intoxicated when she left the bar where her boat was tied up.
They also stated that the inflatable boat was partially inflated
when she left the dock. The victim was en route back to her live
aboard vessel that was anchored in the mooring field when she fell
out of her boat and subsequently drowned. All safety equipment
applicable to the above vessel was found on board. The victim was
not wearing a life jacket. Alcohol may be a factor in the accident.
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Date: June 29,
2005
County: Osceola
Body of Water:
Retention Pond
Victim(s): 1
On above date,
three subjects were fishing from a 12-foot jonboat in a retention
pond in Kissimmee in Osceola County. While tied to reeds along the
west shoreline, two of the occupants shifted their weight to the
left simultaneously, causing water to pour in over the side. The
vessel capsized, and the victim attempted to swim to the eastern
shoreline. The remaining two occupants stayed with the boat. About
20 yards from the shoreline the victim went under water and never
resurfaced. Preliminary information indicates there were three life
jackets on board the vessel that were not utilized. Alcohol may be
a factor in the accident.
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Date: June 27,
2005
County: Monroe
Body of Water:
Bayside of Tavernier Key
Victim(s): 1
On June 27,
2005, the owner and a passenger left the Tavernier Key area to test
the engine on a 1972, 20-foot Wellcraft. During the test, the
engine stalled. A bad storm came upon the disabled boat. The
passenger decided to swim to shore but became exhausted. The
operator of the boat then jumped into the water and took the
passenger a life jacket. At this point the operator attempted to
swim back to the boat which is now drifting away. The passenger
swam to shore and lost sight of the victim and the drifting boat.
The vessel was found drifting by a good Samaritan with no one on
board. Search and rescue is initiated and the body of the victim
was found the next day. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
The cause of death was determined to be drowning.
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Date: June 25,
2005
County: Holmes
Body of Water:
Private Pond
Victim(s): 1
On June 25,
2005, FWC received a request from the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office
to assist with a possible boating accident in Noma, which is located
in north Holmes County. A 62-year-old male was missing and presumed
drowned in the pond located behind a private residence. A 14-foot
jonboat was found resting at the shoreline with a throwable life
preserver, ball cap, tobacco pouch, and a paddle near it. A witness
had observed the victim fishing in the pond and later saw the boat
adrift with no one in it. The victim’s body was located next to a
fiberglass fishing pole floating in the water. The pole still had a
fish attached to the hook. Preliminary information indicates the
victim may have leaned over too far to recover the fish in the
starboard bow area based on the bait, tackle in the area, water, and
wear marks from a cushion. The victim was not wearing a life
jacket.
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Date: June 19,
2005
County: Lake
Body of Water:
Silver Glenn Springs Run
Victim(s): 2
On June 19,
2005, a husband and wife anchored their vessel in the Silver Glenn
Springs Run in Lake County for an overnight stay. They were
sleeping in the berthing area of a 23-foot Chaparral. The victim’s
boat had a Honda generator strapped to the back of the boat running
an air conditioner. There was also another boat that was anchored
directly beside the victim’s boat and it also was running a
generator. Exhaust fumes from the generators entered the cabin area
of the victim’s boat. Both victims died in their sleep as a result
of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Date: June 19,
2005
County: Polk
Body of Water:
Lake Hart
Victim(s): 1
On June 19,
2005, around 2:00 p.m., two subjects were cast netting from an
eight-to-ten foot jonboat on Lake Hart in Polk County. The vessel
sank or capsized and one of the subjects swam to shore and the
victim could not be located. Neighbors called 911 and emergency
personnel responded to the scene. Lake County Sheriff’s Department
located the victim’s body. The victim was not wearing a life
jacket, and the cause of death was determined to be drowning.
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Date: June 7,
2005
County: Seminole
Body of Water:
Lake Howell
Victim(s): 1
On June 7,
2005, a 20-foot Mastercraft ski boat (V1) and an 18-foot bow rider
(V2) were on Lake Howell in Seminole County around 11:59 p.m. V2
was displaying bow lights and was stopped. V1 was heading towards
the middle of Lake Howell. The operator of V1 stated she started to
accelerate when they hit something. Every passenger of V1 stated
they did not see any lights displayed by V2. V1 struck V2 and went
over V2 from stern to port bow. The victim was a passenger in V2.
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Date: May 21,
2005
County: Pinellas
Body of Water:
John’s Pass, ICW
Victim(s): 2
On May 21,
2005, there was a fatal boating accident that occurred in Pinellas
County involving a personal watercraft (PWC) and a 29-foot center
console catamaran which resulted in two fatalities. The accident
occurred two miles southwest of John’s Pass on the ICW. The
catamaran and the PWC were both headed north on the ICW. The PWC’s
bow struck the catamaran on the port side with the entire length of
the catamaran running over the PWC, ejecting the occupants into the
water. The operator of the PWC was pronounced dead at the scene and
the passenger was transported to the hospital where he was
pronounced dead. No injuries to the individuals on the catamaran.
Alcohol may be a factor in the accident.
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Date: May 15,
2005
County: Glades
Body of Water:
Lake Okeechobee
Victim(s): 1
On May 15,
2005, around 2:00 a.m. an 18-foot Proline operated by the victim was
traveling towards the Alvin Ward Boat Ramp in the rim canal of Lake
Okeechobee in Glades County. The vessel was traveling at a high
rate of speed and struck one of the pilings on the north side of the
canal. The 25-year-old victim was ejected and was not wearing a
life jacket. The body was recovered by FWC officers at 6:15 a.m.
near the piling. Drowning was the cause of death.
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Date: May 4,
2005
County: Dixie
Body of Water:
Horseshoe Beach, Gulf of Mexico
Victim(s): 2
On May 4,
2005, around 5:00 p.m., three men went fishing 20 miles offshore
from Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County. The men were fishing out of a
1978, 19-foot Aqua Sport center console. The weather started
getting bad, so the three decided to return to the marina. While
returning the boat started taking on water from the stern from a
following sea. The men tried to bail out the water coming into the
boat but were unsuccessful. When the attempt failed, the three men
put on their life jackets and the boat filled with water and rolled
over. Before the boat filled with water, the men were able to
utilize the VHF radio and call for help. USCG responded to the call
and notified FWC. USCG found the overturned vessel and the men
several hours later. One individual was deceased at the scene and
the other two men were taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville. At
the hospital one other subject passed away and the third subject was
treated for injuries received. The cause of death of both victims
was hypothermia.
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Date: April 26,
2005
County: Palm
Beach
Body of Water:
Jupiter Inlet
Victim(s): 1
On Tuesday,
April 26, 2005, two friends were fishing from a vessel in the
Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County. They elected to return to dock
when the boat hit a huge wave causing the victim to be ejected from
the boat. The passenger told deputies that the victim told him to
turn off the boat and he did; however, he drifted further away from
the boat and was unable to get out of the water. The passenger tried
to turn the boat back on, but didn’t know how to do so. He said he
was going to throw the victim a life jacket, but the current had
carried him very far away. The passenger then flagged down another
boat using the life jackets. The radio on the second boat didn’t
work, and the boater’s looked for the victim for at least 30 minutes
before a third boater called for help at approximately 1:47 p.m. A
Marine Unit arrived on scene and found the victim face down in the
water. The victim’s body was transported to Jupiter Medical Center,
where he was pronounced dead. The Medical Examiner ruled the cause
of death as drowning.
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Date: April 23,
2005
County: Monroe
Body of Water:
Key West Harbor
Victim(s): 1
Vessel #1 and
Vessel #2 were two rented personal watercraft (PWC) being operated
in Key West Harbor in Monroe County. They approached each other in
a head on situation and both failed to avoid collision. The victim
was struck in the face/head and died en route to the Lower Keys
Medical Center.
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Date: April 21,
2005
County:
Washington
Body of Water:
Yates Mill Pond
Victim(s): 1
On April 21,
2005, in the morning hours, the victim went fishing in a 12-foot
johnboat on Yates Mill Pond in Washington County. When he did not
return, his son went looking for him and discovered the victim’s
body around 2:00 p.m. Autopsy reports show that the victim
drowned. Preliminary investigation indicates that the boat turned
over and the victim drowned while attempting to swim to shore. He
was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: April 18,
2005
County: Escambia
Body of Water:
Gulf of Mexico, South of Pensacola Pass
Victim(s): 2
Two subjects
went fishing on April 18, 2005, adjacent the reef Russian Freighter
which is eight miles South of Pensacola Pass in Escambia County.
The father of one of the victims spoke with them at 3:00 p.m. and
both subjects were okay. At 9:00 p.m., the father reported his son
had not returned to the dock and search and rescue efforts began
until 3:00 a.m. At 6:00 a.m. search and rescue efforts resumed. At
8:20 a.m., the vessel was located submerged with no one onboard.
The female victim was located deceased. The Medical Examiner ruled
the cause of death as drowning. The male victim was never
recovered.
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Date: April 14,
2005
County: Indian
River
Body of Water:
Atlantic Ocean
Victim(s): 2
On April 14,
2005, three individuals went offshore fishing on a 20-foot Wellcraft
in the Atlantic Ocean in Indian River County. While returning from
offshore, they had engine problems which caused the vessel to swing
stern first into heavy seas. After placing a frantic 911 call the
three fishermen went over the side as the vessel sank rapidly stern
first. The three men held on to various floating debris and the one
throwable life preserver that floated, then they attempted to swim
westward toward the shoreline. Only one survivor made it to shore,
approximately 14 hours after the vessel sank.
The other two victims were not wearing life jackets and
drowned.
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Date: April
11, 2005
County:
Citrus
Body of
Water: Private Lake
Victim(s): 1
On Monday,
April 11, at around 6:30 p.m. the victim was fishing from a canoe
behind his residence in Citrus County. Somehow the vessel capsized,
and the victim ended up in the water. Neighbors reported hearing
someone calling for help but did not see the victim. He apparently
tried to get back to the dock through thick lily pads but drowned
approximately 20 feet from the dock. There was only a throwable
life preserver found in the water near where the canoe capsized.
The Citrus County dive team found the victim deceased the following
morning at 9:35 a.m. The Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death
as drowning.
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Date: April 9,
2005
County: Orange
Body of Water:
Starke Lake
Victim(s): 1
On April 9,
2005, two occupants were riding a personal watercraft (PWC) on
Starke Lake in Orange County. The operator made a sharp turn and
the victim fell off the back of the PWC. The victim is said to have
panicked while overboard and was unable to climb back on the PWC.
Earlier in the day the victim had reportedly fallen off and panicked
in a similar manner. The operator returned to shore and had a
friend bring the victim to shore. The victim had asthma and was
coughing up blood upon making it to shore, but was coherent and did
not lose consciousness. The victim was transported to the hospital
where he later died.
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Date: April 7,
2005
County: Okaloosa
Body of Water:
Destin Pass
Victim(s): 2
On April 7,
2005, around 5:00 p.m., USCG received an emergency position
indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) distress signal at a location one
mile southeast of Destin Pass. USCG Destin responded to the
location and found a 25-foot Sea Pro capsized. The search and
rescue mission was started by USCG, FWC, US Air Force, and Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Department. The two men on board were from
Fayetteville, Georgia and were experienced boaters. Preliminary
information has revealed that the owner of the boat was very safety
conscious and the vessel was well equipped. Investigators suspect
that the vessel stuffed into a wave causing a rollover due to the
fact that the men did not have time to radio a distress call or put
on life jackets. Sea conditions that day were six to eight feet
with a small craft advisory. Both victims died as a result of
drowning.
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Date: April 4,
2005
County: Palm
Beach
Body of Water:
Port of Palm Harbor
Victim(s): 1
On April 4,
2005, the victim obtained a surplus life raft from the Blue Herring
fishing fleet and launched the raft into the ICW in Palm Beach
County. He pulled his way along the pilings to an area west of the
ICW. He tied the raft off to a piling and started fishing in 15
feet of water. For some unknown reason, the subject fell into the
water and drowned. The subject was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: April 1,
2005
County: Pinellas
Body of Water:
Clearwater Harbor
Victim(s): 1
On April 1,
2005, a father and son were each operating rental personal
watercrafts (PWC) near Sand Key in Pinellas County. The father was
traveling in front of his son in the same direction. The father
stopped abruptly and his son attempted to avoid collision by
reducing power and attempting to turn. He hit the victim’s PWC bow
to stern, impacting the victim and ejecting him. The victim died
from blunt head trauma.
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Date: March 27,
2005
County: Sumter
Body of Water:
Rock Quarry Pit
Victim(s): 1
On March 27,
2005, the victim was fishing from a 12-foot aluminum jonboat in a
rock quarry pit in Sumter County. The victim went overboard and the
vessel swamped and sank to the bottom. The victim failed to return
home and the family notified the Sheriff’s Office who in turn began
a search and rescue operation. The SO then notified FWC. The
Sheriff’s Office Dive Team located the body of the victim along with
his vessel on March 29, 2005. The victim died as a result of
drowning and was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: March
27, 2005
County: Palm
Beach
Body of
Water: Lake Worth
Victim(s): 1
On March 27,
2005, around 4:20 p.m., on the Intracoastal Waterway, North of Curie
Park in Palm Beach County, a personal watercraft (PWC) (V1) and a
31-foot Spirit Sport (V2) collided. V1 was occupied by two
teenagers and V2 was occupied by adults and children. Both vessels
were headed south bound, with V1 just ahead of V2 on its port side.
V1 turned in front of V2 with V2 turning hard starboard to avoid a
collision. V2 ran over V1, killing the passenger and critically
injuring the operator.
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Date March
19, 2005
County:
Broward
Body of
Water: Private Lake, Dania
Victim(s): 1
On March 19,
2005, a 7-foot boat with 2 individuals capsized in a private lake in
Dania (Broward County). The vessel was about 25 yards from shore
when it started taking on water, and the occupants were thrown
overboard when the vessel capsized. One occupant was able to swim
to shore, but the victim was unable to swim and drowned in 24-feet
of water. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: March 19,
2005
County: Collier
Body of Water:
Gulf of Mexico
Victim(s): 1
On March 19,
2005, two individuals went fishing for the day from Collier County.
They were fishing out of a 23-foot Seabird around 30 miles southwest
of Marco Island. The vessel started taking on water after they
heard a loud bang. They had just enough time to put on life
jackets. The vessel sank, and they were found on Monday, March 21,
at 9:00 a.m. The victim was found floating deceased. She was
wearing her life jacket and died from exposure (hypothermia). The
other occupant was located alive a distance from the victim.
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Date: March 13,
2005
County: Duval
Body of Water:
St. Johns River
Victim(s): 1
On March 13,
2005, three people onboard an 18-foot Mako were anchored adjacent to
the south jetties in the St. Johns River, in Duval County. A wave
entered the vessel over the transom and a second wave swamped the
vessel, subsequently sinking it. One occupant swam to the jetties
while another grabbed a seat cushion. Another boater and USCG
rescued the two. The victim floated away from the vessel toward the
ocean. The victim was located by Law Enforcement and transported to
Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced dead. This individual died
as a result of drowning and was not wearing a life jacket.
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Date: March 12,
2005
County: Pinellas
Body of Water:
Tampa Bay
Victim(s): 1
On March 12,
2005, the victim was attempting to push his 2003, 25-foot Grady
White out of shallow water from the stern. The vessel was still in
gear, and he was struck in the head by the prop causing a fatal
injury. Alcohol may be a factor in the accident.
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Date: March 12,
2005
County: Monroe
Body of Water:
Gulf of Mexico
Victim(s): 1
On March 12,
2005, a 25-foot Southwest commercial lobster boat was found going in
circles at a slow speed bayside of Marathon Shores. There was no
one on board. There were live spiny lobsters onboard in a live
well. It appeared that the victim had been pulling lobster traps
prior to his disappearance. The victim was located deceased the
next day.
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Date: February
26, 2005
County: Dixie
Body of Water:
Gulf of Mexico
Victim(s): 2
On February
26, 2005, between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., a school group
consisting of eight students and two adults launched three canoes,
three kayaks, and a motor-powered raft with the intent to travel to
Coon Island and camp. Coon Island is located about one mile west of
the mouth of the Suwannee River. While traveling towards the
island, the group of boats got somewhat apart. Approximately
one-half mile from Coon Island, the motor failed on the motorized
raft and all the vessels rafted off to the disabled vessel except a
green canoe occupied by the two missing juveniles. The group
observed what they believed to be a blinking light of a flashlight
from the vessel just Northwest of Cat Island. The adult group
leader and one student left the raft of boats and traveled by canoe
towards the light they had observed. Approximately ten minutes
later they lost sight of the light and eventually became disoriented
themselves in the darkness. The group leader continued to paddle
for several hours until he was able to gain cell phone service. He
telephoned his wife, who advised USCG of the situation. USCG
responded and located the raft of vessels approximately seven miles
offshore and retrieved five students and one of the adults. The
group leader and another student were also located shortly after
from a canoe. Search efforts are ongoing in attempt to locate the
missing vessel occupied by the two juveniles. The group of students
and adults are from the North Georgia area. The two victims were
located two days later. The medical examiner ruled the cause of
death as hypothermia. Both victims were wearing life jackets.
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Date: January 7,
2005
County:
Miami-Dade
Body of Water:
Atlantic Ocean
Victim(s): 1
On January 7,
2005, a 23’ Seacraft (V-1) was traveling on plane westbound in
Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County. A 21’ Contender (V-2) exited the
Coral Gables waterway on plane also. Both vessels collided and the
occupants of V-2 were ejected. A male occupant on V-2 died as a
result of trauma that he received when the two vessels collided.
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