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VIDEO: Sports car boat does donuts during Christmas parade before crash: Eyewitness

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Published  December 9, 2024 8:25pm EST
Brevard County
FOX 35 Orlando

Merritt Island Christmas boat parade crash raises safety concerns

Some residents are concerned after two boats in the Merritt Island Christmas Parade collided over the weekend, injuring at least three people. The FWC is investigating.

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. - Three people were hurt and taken to the hospital after two boats collided during a Christmas boat parade over the weekend in Merritt Island, officials said.

The holiday boat parade was supposed to be a fun Saturday night for many, but it ended in a crash and people hurt. Those watching the parade spotted bad behavior early on, which now raises questions about safety, as nighttime boat parades are not uncommon in Florida.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the crash, as well as the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. FWC is the lead investigative agency. 

Video shared with FOX 35 showed the driver of a festive boat making "donuts" in the water in Sykes Creek, not far from the shoreline of people's homes. It caught some people off guard, people told FOX 35.

"Within seconds of observing this hazard, he hit someone," one man told FOX 35, though law enforcement has not confirmed which boats were involved in the crash. Officials have also not confirmed the extent of the injuries nor how the crash happened.

FOX 35 has requested the incident report from FWC.

"That kind of behavior has no place in our boat parade, in any boat parade really," said Brett Hyde, who said he's watched the parade for more than 20 years. 

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He is now re-thinking his plans to participate next year.

"I really had thought about putting my boat into the parade next year, but I am going to have to rethink that, I believe," he said. 

FWC said its investigation was active and that it had no additional information to share. It's also unclear if any citations or charges were issued to anyone involved.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the Merritt Island Christmas Boat Parade said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in last night's accident. We don't have any information on the driver of the boat as this vessel was not registered in this years (sic) parade and are trusting the situation is in good hands with local law enforcement."

FWC said both boats involved in the crash were registered with the parade, citing the responding deputy.

"We do not condone this type of reckless activity and will work with local law enforcement to make sure this type of activity is immediately rectified in the future," the post read.

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