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The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office responded to two boat crashes within just a few hours of each other late Sunday night. One involved a couple and their dog, whose boat crashed into the jetties, and the other saw a runaway boat after the operator was thrown into the water. Submitted photo -
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office responded to two boat crashes within just a few hours of each other late Sunday night. One involved a couple and their dog, whose boat crashed into the jetties, and the other saw a runaway boat after the operator was thrown into the water. Submitted photo -
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office responded to two boat crashes within just a few hours of each other late Sunday night. One involved a couple and their dog, whose boat crashed into the jetties, and the other saw a runaway boat after the operator was thrown into the water. Submitted photo -
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office responded to two boat crashes within just a few hours of each other late Sunday night. One involved a couple and their dog, whose boat crashed into the jetties, and the other saw a runaway boat after the operator was thrown into the water. Submitted photo
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit had an eventful weekend, leading two marine rescues when things went awry on the water.
At around 9 p.m. Sunday night, officers responded to calls of a sinking sailboat. The boat had hit the jetties, and the couple and their dog onboard were in danger of going down with the ship. Officers were on scene in time to tow the boat to shore and keep it from sinking.
Just two hours later, at 11 p.m., officers responded to calls of another accident. This time, two boats collided on the water and one of the operators had been thrown from the boat and into the water. The runaway boat had no one else on board to stop it, leaving it running unmanned.
The NCSO Marine Unit was able to stop it, tow it to Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp and rescue the man in the water, who reportedly sustained no serious injuries and did not go to the hospital. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement division is investigating this crash. Video of the runaway boat is viewable on the News-Leader’s Facebook page.
In light of the incident with the runaway boat, NCSO is reminding boaters of the importance of wearing a cut-off lanyard.
“The system typically consists of a switch mounted to the boat’s console (or the engine itself in the case of tiller-style outboards) and a clip that must be inserted into it for the engine to run,” the U.S. Coast Guard’s explanation of cut-off lanyards reads. “The clip is attached to the operator’s life jacket, clothing or wrist with a flexible lanyard, ensuring that when the driver leaves the helm for any reason the clip pulls out and immediately stops the engine.”
The Coast Guard reports 4% of all boating accidents and boating-related injuries every year are caused by runaway boats and propellor strikes. Dozens of people are reportedly killed or injured every year in accidents that could have been prevented by cut-off lanyards.
A federal law passed in 2021 requires all captains of vessels under 26 feet in length to wear a cut-off lanyard, which can often be found for less than $15. The law does not require the lanyard to be worn while the vessel is idling or docking, but violation of this law can result in fines of up to $500 depending on the number of previous offenses. This law applies to all U.S. waterways and also applies to personal watercraft, such as jet skis.
hdorman@fbnewselader.com
