6 injured in Seven Mile Bridge boat crash

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A boat with six people aboard crashed into pilings of the Seven Mile Bridge in the Keys, according to Monroe County officials.

Three people with severe injuries were airlifted to Miami and three others were taken to Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon, Monroe sheriff’s spokeswoman Becky Herrin said Monday morning.

The crash happened about 7:45 Sunday night. The boat was towed to Sunset Grille in Marathon.

Sheriff’s deputies and rescue units responded to the crash, which is being investigated by the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissio

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I'm hearing steering failure...

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Two boats strike bridges in separate incidents
BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com
One boat crashed into the Fleming Key bridge Friday and another hit the Seven Mile Bridge Sunday, according to the Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

There was little information available in the first crash that occurred Friday, only that there were three aboard what was described as a sport boat that struck a Fleming Key pylon, said Coast Guard Sector Key West spokeswoman Lt. j.g. Kate Webb.

The three people were able to swim ashore, Webb said.

Meanwhile, at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, a 24-foot Carolina Skiff with faulty steering and carrying seven people struck a pylon on the new Seven Mile Bridge, said FWC spokesman Bobby Dube.

Jake Cabvender, 22, Christine Eason, 26, and Samantha Palmer, 20, all of Leesburg, were airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, Dube said. All were still at the hospital as of Monday, he said.

Lisa Rytter, 24, also of Leesburg, was taken to Fishermen’s Hospital, Dube said.

The boat was towed to Sunset Grille in Marathon.

Neither drugs nor alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, Dube said, adding that FWC officers verified the boat had a steering problem after the crash.

Another boat hit the old Seven Mile Bridge on July 18, sending two people to Ryder Trauma Center. That crash remains under investigation.

alinhardt@keysnews.com