SYNOPSIS

On Monday May 21, 2012 Victim was a passenger on an air boat demonstration ride on East Lake Tohopekaliga in Osceola County, Florida.  The vessel (herein referred to as V1) was custom built by Alumitech Airboats Inc. of Orlando, Florida.  V1 is a new state of the art airboat.  New owner was in the process of taking delivery of V1 and Alumitech Airboats Inc. standard practice is to take the perspective owner on a demonstration ride.  Alumitech's sales staff was tasked to take photographs of V1 that day and Victim, a writer for an air boating magazine, wanted to accompany sales staff and get photographs for her upcoming magazine article.  Operator, of Alumitech, was chosen by the owner of Alumitech to operate V1 during the demonstration ride.  Sometime during that voyage Victim was injured.  It is unknown what caused Victim's injuries because no singular event during the voyage can be positively identified as being the likely cause of her injuries.  At no time during the voyage did V1 collide with any objects and at no time was anyone ejected or thrown overboard.  Following the voyage, Victim complained that her back was injured but also mentioned that she had received a hip replacement within the past two years.  She did not seek medical attention that day and drove herself back to Tallahassee, Florida in her vehicle.  Approximately two days after the demonstration ride, Victim was diagnosed as suffering with three compression fractures to her spine and sprained back muscles.  Prior to the voyage Victim had received a hip replacement; she regularly receives cortisone injections in both knees and walks with a cane on a regular basis.  She is currently in a back support brace.

ST. CLOUD                     