The vessel was traveling South in Estero Bay near New Pass.  The operator of the vessel asked an occupant for an iced tea from the cooler.  The occupant could not find the tea, so the operator took his eyes off of the water to look in the cooler.  The vessel then struck a channel marker.  The 5 occupants in the vessel were thrown forward.  The operator drove the boat back to the boat ramp.  Five of the occupants were injured and taken to the hospital. The operator was not injured and remained at the boat ramp.
BONITA SPRINGS                