Current:Home > NewsAirboats collide in Florida, injuring 13 who were on Everglades tours -TradeBridge
Airboats collide in Florida, injuring 13 who were on Everglades tours
View
Date:2025-04-11 12:08:08
Two airboats collided with each other on a lake in Florida, injuring 13 people.
The airboats crashed into one another on Monday at Wild Florida, a nature park that offers gator encounters, a safari and Everglade airboat tours. The park is in Kenansville on Lake Cypress, just south of Orlando.
The cause of the crash is not yet known, and the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit will be leading the investigation. Wild Florida has suspended all airboat activities until further notice in response to the incident.
Here’s what else we know so far:
When did the airboat crash occur?
The crash happened around 12:15 p.m. Monday.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office first responded to the scene of the incident. The U.S. Coast Guard investigators arrived on the scene shortly after.
How many people were on the airboats?
According to the Coast Guard, approximately 30 people were involved in the incident, including 28 passengers and two captains.
It's unclear how many people were on each individual boat.
What is known about their injuries?
The extent of the injuries suffered by the 13 people are unknown, though the Coast Guard said there were no life-threatening injuries.
WFTV-TV in Orlando reported that two people were flown to HCA Florida Osceola Hospital and six people were taken there by ambulance. Three people were taken by ambulance to St. Cloud Hospital and 17 people declined treatment.
Four people were taken to an Orlando Health facility and have already been released, WOFL-TV reported.
Crash:'Craziest experience of my life:' Pilot survives crash in waters off Florida Keys
Cold case:Miami police begin pulling cars submerged from a Doral lake. Here's what they found so far.
What is Wild Florida?
Wild Florida is a nature park on Lake Cypress south of Orlando and offers airboat tours, a safari drive-thru and animal encounters, its website says.
Wild Florida is on a mission to "provide an unforgettable Everglades experience that promotes a connection with animals while inspiring education and conservation," according to its website.
What has Wild Florida said about the incident?
The Wild Florida team took to Facebook to apologize to all visitors involved and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.
"We are cooperating fully with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other state and local authorities as they conduct an official investigation of the incident," the Facebook post said. "We are also conducting our own internal investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Wild Florida prides itself on not just having U.S. Coast Guard-approved airboats but also hiring licensed Master Captains who elevate our safety protocols."
veryGood! (788)
Related
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Latest PDA Photo Will Make You Blush
- NOAA’s Acting Chief Floated New Mission, Ignoring Climate Change
- How banks and hospitals are cashing in when patients can't pay for health care
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Meghan Trainor's Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Mom Are Here to Save Mother's Day
- Persistent Water and Soil Contamination Found at N.D. Wastewater Spills
- A Major Fossil Fuel State Is Joining RGGI, the Northeast’s Carbon Market
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- More than 1 billion young people could be at risk of hearing loss, a new study shows
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Indiana doctor sues AG to block him from obtaining patient abortion records
- Nate Paul, businessman linked to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment, charged in federal case
- Welcome to Plathville Star Olivia Plath's 15-Year-Old Brother Dead After Unexpected Accident
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Urgent Climate Action Required to Protect Tens of Thousands of Species Worldwide, New Research Shows
- Shaquil Barrett's Wife Jordanna Gets Tattoo Honoring Late Daughter After Her Tragic Drowning Death
- Even remote corners of Africa are feeling the costly impacts of war in Ukraine
Recommendation
Could your smelly farts help science?
Tom Holland Reveals He’s Over One Year Sober
More Americans are struggling to pay the bills. Here's who is suffering most.
Here's Where You Can Score 80% Off the Chicest Rag & Bone Clothing & Accessories
What to watch: O Jolie night
UN Climate Summit: Small Countries Step Up While Major Emitters Are Silent, and a Teen Takes World Leaders to Task
Texas Gov. Abbott announces buoy barrier in Rio Grande to combat border crossings
Harry Potter's Miriam Margolyes Hospitalized With Chest Infection