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Two Killed in Jet Ski Allision with Concrete Bridge Support

August 24, 2017 Florida Boat Accident Law

Two tourists are reported dead after the 10-foot Yamaha Waverunner they were riding on slammed into a concrete bridge support in the area of the Bridge Road Causeway, north of the MacArthur Causeway.

Sabrina Daniels, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia and Julio Monteiro, 30, of Brockton, Massachusetts traveled with friends to attend the Miami Beach Kizomba Festival.  On Monday, the group of friends rented a yacht near Star Island and took turns riding jet skis.  At about 5:30 p.m. Monteiro was driving the watercraft traveling eastbound towards the causeway, when both he and Daniels were ejected into the water after hitting the concrete bridge arch.

Daniels and Monteiro were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where they died from their injuries.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is currently investigating the crash.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims.

This unfortunate accident highlights the importance of prerental or preride training any time personal watercrafts are involved.  The public is not aware how dangerous these instrumentalities are and because of that the Florida legislature has put in place requirements of liveries as to the instructions operators should be provided prior to the rental or ride of a personal watercraft.  Tragically, many rental companies rush through the instruction briefing or don’t provide one at all practically ensuring that incidents will occur.

Some of the crucial training required by Florida law includes prerental or preride instruction that includes: (1) operational characteristics of the vessel to be rented, (2) safe operation and vessel right-of-way, (3) the responsibility of the vessel operator for the safe and proper operation of the vessel, and (4) local characteristics of the waterway where the vessel will be operated.

The Board Certified Maritime Attorneys are well versed in the requirements of liveries and in the intricacies of the law with respect to watercraft incidents.  We can help.  Contact us today.