Another Bad Accident, In Destin FL - Updates

[Serious News]

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) -- Three people are dead after a boat crashed into a bridge piling in the Florida Panhandle.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told the Northwest Florida Daily News that the bodies of 21-year-old Jamila Beltz, 18-year-old Taylor M. Evanoff, and 47-year-old Robert E. Williams have been pulled from the water.

Investigators say it appears that their boat hit a piling under the Mid-Bay Bridge in Destin sometime late Thursday.

Beltz's and Williams' bodies were recovered Saturday, and Evanoff's body was recovered Friday.

Investigators say they are looking at computer data from the boat's motor.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/state/story/3-people-killed-in-Florida-Panhandle-boat-crash/HFt8Mz8dp0eo8tyhXeCxyA.cspx

[Serious News]

FOLLOW-UP: Okaloosa County boat accident

Updated: Monday, December 9 2013, 07:19 PM CST
OKALOOSA COUNTY - We have new information on the victims of a boating accident last week in Choctawhatchee Bay. They've been identified as 47-year-old Rob Williams, 21-year-old Jamilia Beltz, and 18-year-old Taylor Evanoff, all of Niceville.

Laura Hussey "The wreckage of Rob Williams' boat is still underwater on the west side of the Mid-Bay Bridge, just south of the navigation channel, so it's a ways out there. Details of what led to the accident are still scarce"

The three victims were found Friday and Saturday, in different parts of Choctawhatchee Bay. A taxi receipt in one victim's pocket indicates they were dropped off at Legendary Marine in Destin on Thursday evening. Investigators believe the boat owned by Rob Williams, a 47-year-old former basketball coach, struck a piling of the Mid-Bay Bridge.

Andrea Waters "I just wish that she had a little more time"

Andrea Waters and Debi Brooks knew Taylor Evanoff when she studied cosmetology at the Choice Institute. Now Evanoff's Facebook page is full of messages like "love you" and "rest in peace".

Debi Brooks "She had dreams of being successful. She was such a natural when it came to hair and makeup"

Jamilia Beltz loved to sing, and dreamed of a music career. Her boyfriend says Taylor Evanoff was her best friend. He filed a missing persons report when Beltz never came home Thursday night. He says Evanoff's purse was still in their apartment.

Andrea Waters "It's really sad that her life was taken. She didn't get a chance really"

As investigators try to nail down the connection between Williams and his passengers, families and friends struggle with sudden loss.

Debi Brooks/Choice Inst "Knowing how big of a heart she had just makes my heart want to break for her, her family and all that she could have done"

Laura Hussey "A spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission says it's not clear when that wreckage will be hauled out of the water."

http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/followup-okaloosa-county-boat-accident-39171.shtml

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[Ratickle]

No plans to remove wreckage from fatal boat crash

The Associated Press


DESTIN, Fla. -- State officials say they have no plans to remove the wreckage of a boat crash that killed three people in the Florida Panhandle.

Last week's crash under a Destin bridge killed three Niceville residents: Jamila Beltz, Taylor Evanoff and Robert Williams.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Stan Kirkland tells the Northwest Florida Daily News (http://bit.ly/18Crl0t ) that since authorities know what caused the accident, the agency won't pay to have the wreckage removed.

Kirkland says a coroner's report is still pending for the boat's driver. He did not release additional details about the crash investigation. The events leading up to the crash remain unclear.

If the Coast Guard does not remove the wreckage, it may remain in the water. Kirkland says it's not a hazard to other boats.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/11/3811672/no-plans-to-remove-wreckage-from.html#storylink=cpy

[Ratickle]

DESTIN — State wildlife officials have no plans to remove the wreckage from a recent fatal boat crash at the Mid-Bay Bridge, according to Stan Kirkland, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Authorities have few new details on the crash, which happened late Thursday or early Friday and killed 47-year-old Robert Williams, 18-year-old Taylor Evanoff and 21-year-old Jamilia Beltz, all of Niceville.

The boat, a 336 Cobalt, was owned by Williams and was not insured, Kirkland said.

See photos from the search for the missing boat. >>

The FWC will not pay the estimated $20,000 for a marine towing service to retrieve the wreckage from Choctawhatchee Bay, he said.

Kirkland said the Coast Guard has been asked if it could remove the wreckage, which lies near the bridge piling where it crashed.

“We know what caused the accident,” Kirkland said. “What we don’t know is the state of the driver, but that will be determined by the coroner’s report. There’s really no mystery, and for that reason we’re not going to spend money out of our budget. If the Coast Guard does not remove it, the boat may remain there.”

Kirkland said the wreckage does not pose a hazard to vessels. He added that if investigators must look at the boat and it’s still underwater, a dive team will be sent down.

The crash remains under investigation.

Authorities have not determined when the boat was taken from Legendary Marine at the southern foot of bridge in Destin. Kirkland said officers are looking at timing, weather conditions and reasons why Williams, Beltz and Evanoff were together that night.

“We need to wait and let the officers do their job and we’ll go from there for a final report,” Kirkland said. “There’s just a lot of questions out there.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.

[Serious News]

DESTIN — As investigators work to piece together the events that led to the deaths of three Niceville residents, friends and family remain stunned.

The wreck of the 336 Cobalt craft that killed Taylor Evanoff, Jamilia Beltz and Robert Williams remains under investigation.

Lakesha Sullivan, Beltz’s aunt, said the 21-year-old Omaha, Neb., native had become good friends with Evanoff, who was 18.

“They were friends for almost a year now,” Sullivan said. “I didn’t know Taylor, but I knew they were good friends. What I don’t understand is why these two young girls were on a boat with this 47-year-old man.”

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Stan Kirkland, 47-year-old Williams, Evanoff and Beltz were dropped off by a cab late Thursday at Legendary Marine, where Williams was a longtime customer.

Kirkland said further questioning will take place this week to learn the exact time and location of the cab ride. Kirkland confirmed Evanoff had a mark on her hand indicating she had visited an area club that night.

“Taylor was a sweet girl with a complicated life,” said Debi Brooks, a cosmetology teacher at CHOICE Career and Technical Institute, where Evanoff attended until 2012.


“She was trying to get herself back on track. I lost track of her over the last few months. I was completely blown away and deeply unnerved when I heard she was killed.

“I hate when a young life is taken so short. She was one I was hoping would have made it.”

While Williams’ connection with the two girls is not apparent, the death of the former Bay High School boys basketball coach shocked those who knew him.

“My children miss their daddy,” said Williams’ ex-wife, Teri Van Dyke Williams, who said their four children range in age from 2 to 14. “We’re trying to make sense of this. There’s a lot of questions right now.

“We live in Niceville and the support has been tremendous. We appreciate everybody’s prayers during this time.”

Kirkland said officials are working to retrieve the boat, which could shed light on what led to the crash. A marine salvage tow will likely be on scene early this week.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/boating-crash-shocks-family-friends-1.246575?tc=obinsite

[Serious News]

Boat wreckage salvaged from bay

DESTIN — The wreckage from last week’s fatal boat crash at the Mid-Bay Bridge was lifted from Choctawhatchee Bay on Friday afternoon, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

But there are no new details about the accident that killed 47-year-old Robert Williams, 18-year-old Taylor Evanoff and 21-year-old Jamilia Beltz, all of Niceville.

The FWC and Coast Guard used a crane on a barge to lift the 336 Cobalt boat from near the bridge. The job took one to two hours.

The salvage team initially tried to take it to Legendary Marine in Destin, but had to switch locations because the tide was too low, FWC investigator Sulin Schafer said.

The boat eventually will be taken to a secure location in Panama City while the accident investigation continues, Schafer said.

There was damage to the front of the boat consistent with a crash, she said. Officials believe the boat rammed a piling of the bridge either late Dec. 5 or early Dec. 6.


Investigators will try to reconstruct the crash with the evidence, she said.

“As far as trying to figure out the way that it hit and the dynamics of it, that is going to take some work,” Schafer said.

Officials believe a taxi dropped Williams, Evanoff and Beltz off at Legendary Marine before the accident. No details have been released on when they launched the boat from the marina.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/boat-wreckage-salvaged-from-bay-photos-1.249360