On March 4, 2013 at about 4:17 Pm I Investigator received a call from dispatch advising a single vessel accident occurred on Lake Monroe at channel marker 14 near West Seminole Boulevard and North Palmetto Avenue Seminole County Florida, one person in the water and was missing. I responded to the scene and was assigned the case as the Investigator. 

The results of the preliminary investigation are:  

The operator had launched his 16' Ranger Bass boat from the Monroe Harbour Marina earlier in the day. The vessel was traveling easterly along the southern edge of Lake Monroe heading toward the Marina. For an unknown reason the operator struck the north side of the wood channel marker. The force of the collision resulted in the operator being ejected into the water. The operator was not wearing a personal floatation device (PFD). A Seminole County Fire Department diver recovered the operator's body that had no vital signs and was pronounced dead at the scene. The decedent was transported to the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office in Daytona for medical examination.

See attached FWC  Incident Summary Report for details.


preliminary findings from the M.E. show injuries of a broken collar bone and rib bone, 8 cm laceration to the right side of the head, bleeding inside the head. aspiration of water in lungs were noted,  ME determined cause of death as a drowning.
SANFORD