MIAMI — Four people were airlifted as trauma alert patients after a Sunday evening boat crash in the Upper Florida Keys, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the boat hit a channel marker and capsized. The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. near Boca Chita, an island in the northern Florida Keys within Biscayne National Park.
Unlike most of the Keys, which are in Monroe County, Boca Chita is offshore of Miami-Dade County.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said there were 14 people on board, 11 of whom were injured.
In video provided by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Capt. Juan Garrandes said Miami-Dade Police Marine Patrol units got to the crash site first, pulled some injured people out of the water and took them to Elliott Key island, from which they were airlifted. Then, Fire Rescue and Marine Patrol units collected the rest of the passengers and brought them to land.
Rescue crews set up operations at Black Point Marina in South Miami-Dade. Several people with minor injuries walked off the county vessel wrapped in white blankets. At least three of the people to exit the boat were children.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is the lead agency investigating the crash, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Erika Benitez said.
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