On Sunday, April 16, 2023, the occupants of V1 were returning to Indian River County, Florida, from a recreational cruising expedition to St. Lucie County, Florida.  During the return trip home, V1 was exposed to hazardous weather conditions consisting of a thunderstorm, lightning and heavy rain.  While navigating east in the Indian River Inter-coastal Waterway, south of the 17th Street Bridge, along the south side of the power-lines, V1 struck a concrete piling.  

As a result of the allision, the operator and three of the five occupants received non-life threatening injuries and were transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, St. Lucie County.  Injured juvenile occupants were later transferred to St. Mary's Children's Hospital, Palm Beach County, Florida.

PRE-INCIDENT

	V1, occupied by two adults and four juveniles, was returning to home port during a significant weather event.  While navigating the Indian River Inter-coastal Waterway, the operator of V1 altered course from a northerly direction to an easterly direction following a series of concrete columns supporting overhead power-lines.

INCIDENT

	While traveling along the south side of the power-lines, the bow of V1 allided with a concrete column, causing the occupants to be forcefully thrown about the passenger compartment of the vessel.
	
POST-INCIDENT

	After the allision, the operator navigated V1 to his residence.  Upon arrival, the second adult occupant called 911, which Indian River County Fire Rescue responded.  Two of the four juveniles were uninjured.  The two adults and two other juveniles were transported to Lawnwood Hospital (St. Lucie County, Florida) with non-life threatening injuries.  

The two juveniles were later transferred to St. Mary's Children's Hospital (Palm Beach County, Florida) for treatment of their non-life threatening injuries, later determined to be less than serious bodily injury.; 

Operator sustained broken ribs (2), abrasions/contusions on upper body and face, and a laceration to the left side of his head.

Occupant1 sustained a concussion and was released from the hospital after one night. 

Occupant3 had a fractured skull with the presence of internal bleeding in her head.; 

Occupant2 has a laceration on the left side of her head, abrasions/contusions on upper body and face, and a lower right leg/ankle injury.

Indian River Inter-coastal Wat
VERO BEACH                    