Dylan Gonzalez of Port Charlotte, Florida died in an early morning June 19th boating accident. Gonzalez was fishing with his friend Billy Pfannkuch on a 19′ Ranger flats boat. Near 4:20 AM, the two men heard another boat’s engine coming towards them. That boat was a 20′ Lake & Bay operated by Dalton Reas and carrying four passengers. Pfannkuck reported to law enforcement that the boat operated by Reas was on plane in a no wake zone portion of the Intracoastal Waterway near Eldred’s Marina and Placida Harbor. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who is investigating the accident reports the larger Lake & Bay boat struck a channel marker before colliding into the smaller Ranger boat. As shown in the above photograph, it appears that the Lake & Bay struck the Ranger on the starboard (right) aft (rear) quadrant with significant force. Gonzalez was transported to a nearby hospital but died from his injuries. Pfannkuch, who was ejected into the water from the crash, suffered a fractured collarbone and pelvis. A GoFundMe page was created to help with Pfannkuch’s medical and family expenses as he is expected to be out of work for at least three months.

Boat run-over accidents in Florida have spiked in recent weeks. Often times a contributing factor to these run-overs is one boat failing to comply with safety laws. It has been reported that the Lake & Boat may not have had its running lights one. Both Federal and Florida law requires that a boat underway at night to display a certain configuration of lights so that others make observe the speed and direction of the boat.

Photo Credit:
Boca Beacon