BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 25-year-old Merritt Island man was cited for his role in the Brevard County Christmas boat parade crash that sent three people to the hospital, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Two boats collided during the annual Merritt Island Boat Parade on Sykes Creek on Saturday, Dec. 7, officials said.
According to the FWC, Cameron Michaels was the driver of the jet boat which looks like it’s made out of the body of a Corvette. Millions have now watched video an Instagram video showing the jet boat slamming into another vessel.
Michaels was cited by the FWC for reckless or careless operation of vessel, according to the FWC citation.
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After the crash, rescuers reported one patient was pulled from the water that was not moving. On Dec. 9, the FWC said two of the patients were able to leave the hospital right away but did not confirm the health of the third patient.
Don Wilson watched the parade on Dec. 7 from his house on Sykes Creek.
He told News 6 reporter James Sparvero the red jet boat driver probably didn’t have a mechanical failure because he was driving recklessly earlier.
“He started further south on the creek, and he was doing donuts and driving recklessly, way over the speed limit here,” Wilson said. “Spinning around and he got too close to other boats and he crashed into one. It was obvious that it was going to happen, and it did very quickly,” the witness added.
The annual boat parade is a tradition dating back decades and is normally known for happy memories.
“It was a surprise because we’ve been here for many, many years, like 25 years and we’ve seen the parade year after year, and this has never happened before,” Wilson said. “So it’s quite the exception.”
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