Cocoa Beach Hit-and-Run Boat Collision Injures Teenage Swimmer

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 5, 2020

Although 4th of July celebrations looked a little different this year due to the coronavirus, and many beaches along Florida’s beautiful coastline were closed this weekend, a handful of them remained open, including a few in Cocoa Beach. Swimmers and boaters flocked to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to enjoy some socially distanced fun in the sun. Unfortunately, just after the festivities were getting started Friday afternoon, a hit-and-run boating accident involving a teenage swimmer occurred near Alan Shepard Park.

According to reports from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, authorities were alerted to the boat crash shortly after noon on Friday, July 3rd, 2020. Witnesses in the surrounding areas recalled the offending vessel as being blue & white in color when they noticed it traveling at a high rate of speed toward a cluster of swimmers near the dock. Despite their best efforts, local lifeguards were unable to get the driver’s attention before he drove his boat directly through the group of swimmers, striking a 14-year-old girl in the process. It is unknown at this time whether or not the boat captain was aware of the collision. Regardless, he proceeded to pilot his watercraft northbound along the shoreline past the Cocoa Beach Pier.

Emergency response teams with the Brevard County Fire Rescue quickly arrived at the scene of the accident. Due to the severity of her injuries, the young teenager was medevaced by First Flight Helicopter from a local Cape Canaveral hospital to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando where they specialize in pediatric medicine. Additional information regarding her condition has yet to be released to the public.

After being on the run for almost twenty-four hours, the boater who allegedly caused the crash was eventually apprehended by the U.S. Coast Guard, in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the BCFR.

The area in which this collision occurred is typically a popular spot for fishermen to catch live bait for deep-sea fishing, and is incredibly busy during the scorching summer months.

Sources:

• Girl Injured By Hit-And-Run Boat In Cocoa Beach
• Girl struck by boat in Cocoa Beach hit-and-run, FWC says

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.