MERRITT ISLAND — Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators continue to review a two-boat crash Saturday night that left three people injured during the annual Merritt Island Christmas Boat Parade program.
“Right now it’s still under investigation,” said Chad Weber, spokesperson for FWC, the lead agency looking into whether there is any criminal liability stemming from what happened along the canal as the festive holiday parade was underway Saturday. No arrests have been made, pending the outcome of the active investigation.
The collision happened at 8:38 p.m. along the 1500 block of Sykes Creek Drive, as boaters in vessels decorated with holiday lights passed through the canal area. A video shows a man helming a Corvette-style boat with a woman passenger before speeding off and then veering into the direction of another vessel yards away before slamming into it directly.
This photo of the Merritt Island Christmas Boat Parade was taken Saturday before a crash that left one person injured.
Brevard County Fire Rescue crews were called out to the canal following reports of multiple victims and a missing person following the crash involving the sports car-styled vessel and the other boat, which turned out to be exaggerated. “Everyone was accounted for on arrival,” said Rachel Horst, spokesperson for Brevard Fire Rescue.
Later, FWC confirmed that several people suffered injuries.
“Two vessels registered in the Merritt Island Boat Parade collided, resulting in three individuals being transported to the hospital, Weber said in a statement Tuesday.
The Merritt Island Christmas Boat Parade, a mainstay of the holiday season that draws hundreds along the canal with dozens of boaters coursing along the canal, began after sundown Saturday night. The parade — which passes residents holding house parties and watching from alongside the canal — began at Sykes Creek Parkway Bridge and ended at SeaRay Drive. The Corvette could be seen doing doughnuts in the water shortly before the crash. Investigators have not named any of the individuals injured or operating the boats.
The state agency’s investigation is expected to review factors such as speed, safety protocols during operation of the boats and whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Or X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: FWC: Ongoing investigation into Merritt Island Christmas parade boat crash