11/30/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, US // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Miami, FL—Two boats collided Monday afternoon, Nov. 29, 2010, claiming the lives of two people and leaving two others with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. The boating accident occurred on Biscayne Bay near Biscayne Channel shortly after 1 p.m., as reported by Just News.
According to Mark Houghtaling, of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, “I have been on a lot of boat collisions… This was a serious boat collision.” Officials said two $800,000 boats were traveling at a high rate of speed when the violent watercraft wreck occurred.
Both of the boats carried three people at the time. Jorge Pino of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission noted, “Some people ended up in the water as a result of the collision.”
Rescue personnel arrived at the scene to aid those injured in the two-boat crash. Reports indicated one of the injured victims, whom friends identified as Stewart Posner, suffered severe injuries.
“We loaded him up on our stokes litter, which is a litter we use, a backboard we use to hoist on(to) a helicopter, and we did an airlift off the water with the patient, and he subsequently went to Ryder Trauma Center,” explained Houghtaling.
Steward Posner was reportedly listed in critical condition at the hospital. Another victim, who remained unidentified, suffered minor injuries and was rushed to Mercy Hospital for treatment.
Tragically, two other victims were killed in the watercraft crash. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Family friends identified one of the victims as Steven Posner, Stewart’s cousin.
While a full probe was expected to be underway, Pino said, “We had a situation where there were two vessels that were operating at a very high rate of speed… We don’t know if that was a cause of the accident, but somehow, the two vessels collided.”
Investigations continue.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan– Legal News for Florida Boat Accident Lawyers.
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