At least two people were hospitalized after their boat hit a coral reef near the Lower Florida Keys and flipped over Saturday, according to local media.
The incident happened around 3:50 p.m. near Big Torch Key. Both the operator and passenger were ejected from the vessel, which Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials told reporters was allegedly going at a high rate of speed. They were taken to a local hospital and no update on their conditions was available as of Tuesday morning.
The crash is being investigated by the FWC.
This is at least the second tragic incident occurring in the Keys over the weekend. The other involved a crash in which four of seven people on a vessel were injured after they were ejected when the boat crashed into the Seven Mile Bridge in the Middle Keys. The operator in that case was a minor, officials said.
That crash is under investigation.
Ira Leesfield on Boating Incidents
Ira Leesfield is the Founder and Managing Partner of Leesfield & Partners – a personal injury law firm with over 48 years of experience in Miami, Orlando, Key West and throughout the Florida Keys. In that time, Mr. Leesfield and the attorneys at his firm have represented countless boat crash victims and their families, becoming among the top leaders in the state when it comes to maritime and boating accident law.
With his Miami office’s prominent location on U.S. 1, one of the city’s most-used highways, Mr. Leesfield regularly posts safety advisories to the public on holidays when residents are most likely to spend time out on the water. Among these safety advisories are warnings about issues involved in boating incidents that Leesfield & Partners has long worked to raise awareness about, including: a lack of life jacket usage, insufficient boater education, recklessly speeding, and drinking while boating.
Previously, Mr. Leesfield has expressed his support for initiatives such as Lucy’s Law, which aims to create stricter penalties for boaters who are under the influence and leave the scene after being involved in crashes that cause injuries or deaths on the water in Florida. His aim is to continue pushing for stronger safety protocols and awareness of this pressing issue.
“The dangers from boating incidents are entirely underestimated as South Florida becomes more congested, drinking on the water becomes more prevalent and distractions from cell phones and other devices increases,” Mr. Leesfield said. “Important safety standards must be enforced on all watercrafts.”
Recent Florida Boating Incident Data
There were approximately 685 reportable boating incidents in 2024, according to the most recent data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Of these crashes, 76 were fatal and resulted in the deaths of at least 81 people. About 15 fatal accidents happened from a crash with a fixed object and 15 more were caused by boaters and passengers falling overboard. At least 37 people involved in fatal accidents died from drowning.
Overall, the leading cause of a crash in the state was a collision with a fixed object. This crash type accounted for 31% of 2024 collisions. Alcohol and/or drug use was a factor in st least 36% of boating fatalities.
The majority of these tragic incidents happened in May, the data showed. Miami-Dade County was the area with the highest number of reported accidents and injuries, followed by Monroe County. Leesfield & Partners operates offices in both counties with a headquarters in Miami and another office on historic Whitehead Street in Key West.
In Miami-Dade County data, FWC reported a total of 75 accidents with 41 injuries. At least eight people were killed.
The data shows that, of the operators involved in fatal accidents, about 65% had no formal boater’s education. This is a decrease from the previous year in which the agency reported more than 80% of the boaters involved in fatal incidents had no formal boater’s education.
When it comes to personal watercrafts such as jet skis, these vessels were involved in about 22% of reportable boating accidents in 2024. More than half of these incidents involved a crash with another vessel. About 24 of the 149 personal watercraft incidents in 2024 occurred in Miami-Dade County. In all, the state had 12 deaths related to the 149 personal watercraft incidents and 113 others were injured.
Leesfield & Partners has actively pursued settlements and verdicts on behalf of jet ski crash victims and, in the last six years, has secured over $10 million on behalf of these injured clients. These devastating cases have had long-lasting impacts for our clients with many who have suffered life-altering injuries or the tragic loss of a loved one. These include:
- A $2.8 million recovery for a woman who was killed as the result of a jet ski company’s negligence.
- An accident resulted in a $1.6 million recovery for our injured client,
- A jet ski crash with serious injuries in which our attorneys obtained a $1 million recovery for an injured client.
- Over $935,000 secured for a client who was involved in a jet ski crash with a boat.
- A $900,000 recovery for a client injured in an accident involving a jet ski company.
- A jet ski rental company case in which our client was injured in a crash that resulted in a six-figure settlement amount.
In an ongoing case being handled by Partner Justin B. Shapiro, a woman was injured by her cruise ship’s excursion tour guide. In that case, the woman booked a jet ski tour offered by the cruise ship during which the tour guide crashed into her from behind, causing painful spinal fractures and significant bruising.
Previous Cases
A substantial settlement was secured by Leesfield & Partners in a case involving a minor who lost a leg while not being supervised on a vessel.
The firm previously handled the case of a family whose young son was snorkeling when he was hit and killed by a passing boater. The boater in that case was also a minor who should never have been given permission to operate the vessel without supervision. Not only did this minor not stop, but he attempted to cover up evidence and lied to police when questioned.
Neighbors later testified that this minor regularly operated the boat in a reckless manner.
The firm represented the family of a young woman, 20, who tragically died when the vessel she was on crashed into a concrete dock. The firm secured over $1.3 million for the family when it was revealed that the boat operator had been drinking and speeding the night of the crash.
In a jet ski and boat crash, Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured $935,750 for their client.
In a boat case involving a foreign resort, the firm secured an $800,000 recovery for the injured client.
Another boating accident involving a negligent operator resulted in a $500,000 recovery.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Lawyer at the firm, recently secured a settlement for the family of a young lobster diver and father-to-be. The lobster diver was in the water when a law enforcement officer failed to adhere to divers-down flag laws.