Teen girl in hospital following fatal two-vessel crash
A local teen remains hospitalized after a fatal boat-personal watercraft collision over the weekend.
At approximately 3:45 p.m. Aug. 30, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other area agencies responded to the scene of the two-vessel incident near the Captiva Pass.
“Preliminary information indicates that a personal watercraft (PWC) with two occupants and a 28-foot vessel with four occupants were traveling in the channel in the Pine Island Sound near Captiva Pass when a collision occurred,” the FWC said. “One of the occupants of the PWC was airlifted to a nearby hospital, while the second occupant was tragically pronounced deceased as a result of the incident.”
It added that the occupants of the boat were uninjured.
“The FWC extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life in this accident. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” the FWC said.
FWC Public Information Officer Bradley Johnson confirmed that both occupants of the personal watercraft were 17-year-old females from the Lee County area. The boaters were also local.
He reported that the teen trauma-alerted to the hospital was stable as of Sept. 2.
Neither her identity, nor that of the deceased victim, has been released.
Johnson reported that the incident remains under investigation and the FWC is the lead agency.
Multiple agencies responded to the fatal collision, including the Cape Coral Fire Department, Iona-McGregor Fire District, Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), Lee County EMS, Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, U.S. Coast Guard, Upper Captiva Fire Protection & Rescue Service District and Useppa Island Fire Rescue. The Captiva Island Fire Control District’s rescue boat was in the shop, so it was unable to respond.
Useppa Island Fire Chief Marc Mascarelli reported that the LCSO was the first on scene, followed by himself and another crew member. The boaters had pulled the teens from the water before they arrived.
“They were already on the boat that they came in contact with,” he said.
“They had life jackets on still,” Mascarelli added.
His crew joined a LCSO deputy who was providing CPR and they began to work on both victims. He reported that they replaced a makeshift tourniquet that the boaters had put on one of the teen’s legs.
“She had been cut open really bad with the propeller. She had a broken arm,” Mascarelli said. “She was still alive, but in and out of consciousness.”
“No one on the boat was injured, so they were helping out where they could,” he added.
As the additional agencies arrived, attempts continued to revive the second teen. Upper Captiva Fire Chief Jesse Cottrell’s crew was one of the first to show up and begin treating both of the victims.
“Each victim had extensive injuries,” he said.
“A good, reasonable amount of time and effort went into reviving the other girl,” Mascarelli added, explaining that the teen had sustained multiple injuries throughout her body, including her head.
The victims and responders rode about a half-mile to Upper Captiva on the boat.
“It was easier not to move them at that point,” Mascarelli said of the teens.
On shore, one was pronounced dead and the other was transported to the Gulf Coast Medical Center.
“We continued treatment until the AeroMed (helicopter) landed, then we transferred care to the flight crew,” Cottrell said. “After the AeroMed lifted off, the scene was then released to the FWC.”
As of Sept. 2, Cottrell heard that she was still being treated for her injuries.
“They said she did not lose her leg,” Mascarelli added.
Many of the agencies that responded are members of the Lee County Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT), which is led by Mascarelli. He reported that the LCSO and his crew arrived within 15 minutes and eight or nine assets arrived in 30 minutes — a reasonable time for a water-based call.
“We have a very good emergency response team,” Mascarelli said. “The MERT did its job.”
He noted that they may have lost the second teen without such collaboration.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email