Alcohol factor in boat accident, FWC states

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer has stated that “alcohol does appear to be a factor” in a boating accident on Monday, July 8, that sent eight people to the hospital.

Three people were flown by air ambulance to a Miami-Dade County hospital and the others were treated at Lower Keys Medical Center after the boat they were in struck the South Pine Channel Bridge early Monday, July 8.

In Monday’s crash, all the passengers were ejected from the vessel, according to FWC Capt. Dave Dipre.

“Alcohol does appear to be a factor,” the FWC stated in its report that briefly summarized the accident. “V1 (vessel one), a fishing charter vessel, collided into a fixed bridge at an unsafe speed. Occupants were either ejected or stuck amongst the pieces of the sinking vessel. The operator and occupants suffered serious bodily injuries.”

Also, FWC. Lt. Josh Peters, who approved the report, checked the “yes” box under “alcohol related,” on the form, the report stated.

The FWC listed the operator of the vessel as Laurence L. Lewis. Lewis, 42, of Big Pine Key, was one of three people flown to Miami for treatment. Authorities were not able to obtain a sample of his blood for testing at the scene of the crash, but did obtain a sample of his “medical blood” that was taken at the hospital, and it be used as “evidence” for “prosecution in the case,” Monroe County Chief Assistant State Attorney Joe Mansfield told The Keys Citizen.

“We eagerly anticipate the results of the test,” Mansfield said. “It’s not going to be whether there was alcohol in his blood, but how much.”

Lewis had not been charged criminally as of Friday, July 12.

Of the three flown to Miami, one was a 12-year-old boy. The FWC listed the seven passengers as being from Live Oak, Florida. The FWC did not state whether the trip was a paid charter. Mansfield said Lewis’ captain’s license had expired.

The accident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, according to Monroe County spokeswoman Kristen Livengood. The vessel, described as a large Contender, struck the bridge at a “high rate of speed,” and then started to sink, Livengood said.

Dipre estimated the speed of the vessel to be between 30 and 40 mph, he said. The vessel was traveling from the ocean to the bay through South Pine Channel when it struck the bridge, Dipre said.