Boating Accident on 4th of July Claims Several Lives off Miami Coast

A boating accident on the night of July 4th off the coast of Miami’s Dinner Key has claimed the lives of 4 and injured a dozen more victims. Witnesses say that an open fisherman style boat with several passengers, being driven by Andrew Garcia, an experienced boater and fisherman, first struck a 36 foot pleasure boat causing him to be ejected from the helm of his boat. This initial impact, according to the captain of the pleasure boat, also caused passengers of his boat to be thrown into Biscayne Bay.

The boat that Garcia was driving then continued on and struck one other boat. At this point the cause of the accident is unknown and is being investigated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission which is holding all three vessels at its North Miami facility. Victims of the crash were taken to several local hospitals including: Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Kendall Regional Hospital. Some victims were treated and released and others are still being treated.

The names of the individuals that died as a result of the accident and whose names have been released are: Andrew Garcia, Kelsie Karpiak, and Tori Dempsey. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these victims and their families. They have suffered a great loss (and will continue to suffer their loss) on a day that is usually reserved to celebrate or nation’s independence.