PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Several people were injured Sunday night when a boat crashed into the rocks across from Jetty Park, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The crash happened around 6:20 p.m. in Port Canaveral.
Seven people were on the boat, according to FWC. Of the seven onboard, six were ejected from the boat and were treated for injuries.
Cape Canaveral Fire officials initially said seven people were injured and taken to the hospital, including four who were considered trauma-alert patients, one of whom was airlifted from the crash site.
News 6’s Angie Quezada went out on the water Monday morning with local boater Jordan Wallace, who guided her to the exact area where the vessel struck the jetty. Wallace, who spends nearly every day navigating the channel, said the stretch of water can turn hazardous quickly, especially for boaters who lose focus.
“Well, typically, when people hit the jetties and stuff, they got the boat on autopilot,” Wallace said. “So they’re just not paying attention. I’ve seen a boat crash into that jetty over there.”
Brevard County deputies say all seven people onboard the vessel were accounted for, but several suffered injuries after the boat collided with the rocks in the dark. Video from the scene shows first responders surrounding the wrecked vessel, pinned against the jagged jetty as waves crashed around it.
Recovery crews later pulled the damaged boat to shore. The back end appeared crushed from the impact.
Moments after the crash, one victim was airlifted to a hospital as medics worked to treat others. Another ambulance was seen leaving the jetty with lights activated, and a second helicopter later transported an additional patient.
Local boater Adam Bijou said the size of the vessel and the conditions likely contributed to the severity of the injuries.
“That must have been a fairly large boat to have seven people on it,” Bijou said. “If it hits the rocks with the waves, it’s pretty violent.”
Bystanders watched from the jetty as rescue crews worked quickly. For Wallace, the crash served as another reminder that the waterfront can be unforgiving.
“Ultimately, life is fragile,” Wallace said. “That’s why we have to have trust in Jesus. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow.”
Bijou echoed the same warning, urging caution in an area where boat traffic is often tight and unpredictable.
“You’ve got to be careful,” he said. “Boats come by really close to other boats because everything gets funneled through the port.”
FWC is the lead agency investigating the crash, the sheriff’s office said.
FWC is leading the investigation into what caused the crash, and they are working to determine the events leading up to the impact.
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