BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 25-year-old Merritt Island man was cited for his role in a 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 that shows 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.
The FWC gave Michaels another ticket for speeding in a manatee zone.
The speeding ticket carries a $140 fine while the reckless boating ticket means Michaels will have to go to court where a judge will decide his punishment.
After the crash, rescuers reported one patient was pulled from the water and 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.
Wednesday, the driver of the other boat told News 6 reporter James Sparvero that he suffered nine herniated disks while his brother, who was also on the boat, suffered two herniated disks.
The FWC in its new report said the third patient is still walking on crutches as of this week.
Don Wilson watched the parade on Dec. 7 from his house on Sykes Creek.
He told Sparvero that 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.”
In its report, the FWC said Michaels admitted to doing donuts and making “erratic” left and right turns.
Michaels said he didn’t see the other boat because it didn’t have lights, according to the FWC report.
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.”
The FWC said drugs and alcohol were not believed to be a factor.
Two years ago, Michaels went to jail for two DUIs. He was driving cars in those cases.
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