Accidents of the Week - December 20, 2025
BoatTEST publishes “Accidents of the Week” as a public service for our VIP Subscribers to acquaint them with potential boating dangers and by inference their prevention.
3 Dead in Tragic Turkey Run Accident
11/29/25 – Lee Co., FL
A tragic boating accident that occurred near the Cape Coral Yacht Club on 29 November, resulting in the loss of three lives and leaving one person in critical condition, was under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
"We saw a high-speed catamaran, and it flipped pretty much end over end behind us," said Trevor Zamniak, a witness to the accident.
According to a friend who spoke with local reporters, the victims were taking part in an annual Turkey Run and were on their way back from Naples, Florida, when the disaster struck.
Brenna Millett and Rebecca Knight died while at the hospital. Craig Millett's body was found in the water after hours of searching. Neal Kirby remained in the hospital in critical but stable condition.
Crash Response Involved Helicopters, Boats, K-9 Units, Dive Teams
According to FWC Public Information Officer Bradley Johnson, "we'll do things like I'm looking at GPS footage, potentially engine data, anything we can find to kind of put pieces together in our investigative process."
Johnson explained the complexity of such investigations. "They look at a lot of data and information, piecing that accident back together, especially in these marine environments, where evidence sinks and floats away and shifts," said Johnson. "So there's a lot of information for them to sift through. So it can take some time before they get those answers to you, but they are going to work diligently to get that information."
The response to the crash involved helicopters, boats, K-9 units and dive teams. The investigation was ongoing as the FWC worked to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Coast Guard Rescues Boaters Near Key West
11/29/25 – Key West, FL
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two boaters from a disabled 30-foot sailboat north of Key West on 29 November.
The U.S. Coast Guard Station Key West reported they received a 911 distress call “from a mariner in distress” at approximately 10:30 a.m. The sailing vessel Oria was adrift for two days during a planned journey from Cape Coral to Key Largo.
The Coast Guard said the Oria was anchored due to inclement weather. The boat rescue occurred about 12 miles north of Key West. There were no injuries reported.
Crews Respond to Overturned Boat in Virginia Lake
11/28/25 – Chesapeake, VA
Crews responded to a water rescue in in Chesapeake, Virginia, on the morning of 28 November.
According to police, crews were called to Lake Drummond in the Dismal Swamp at 6:28 a.m. responding to reports of a boat that had capsized. The Fire Department launched a rescue boat with assistance from the Chesapeake Police Department.
When crews arrived, they located three individuals in the water. Chesapeake Swiftwater Boats were deployed to conduct the rescue operation.
Two patients were successfully rescued at 7:32 a.m. Moments later, the third patient was also rescued. All three patients were then taken to local hospitals for further evaluation and treatment. Officials said their injuries were non-life-threatening.
Multiple Agencies Rescue Boaters Stuck in Lake
11/28/25 – Memphis, TN
Multiple Mississippi agencies worked together to rescue three men from a fishing lake in Coahoma County early morning on 28 November, amidst extremely poor visibility.
The Bolivar County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was dispatched to DeSoto Lake, which straddles Mississippi and Arkansas, after a report that three men and a boat were stuck in the mud.
When the Bolivar Co. EOC team arrived, personnel from Coahoma County’s Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office were also on the scene. The depth of the water prevented them from reaching the stranded boat, authorities said.
‘Extremely Limited Visibility’ Hampered Rescue Efforts
Officials reported that four boats headed onto the lake in search of the boaters — two boats with two members from the Bolivar Co. EOC team, a rescue boat with three men from the fire department, and a private mud boat with two men.
According to officials, it took around an hour to find the stranded boaters due to extremely limited visibility at the time. The Bolivar Co. EOC boats could only get within a few hundred yards of the stranded boat because of the shallow water, officials explained.
After about an hour and half, a line to the stranded boat was established and the Bolivar Co. EOC boat began towing the stranded boat, with three men on board, to the landing. Bolivar Co. officials said everyone made it back to land safely.
Fire Tears Through 3 Boats at Florida Marina
11/27/25 – Madeira Beach, FL
Three boats were destroyed in a Thanksgiving Day fire at a marina in Madeira Beach, Florida, officials said.
Firefighters responded to a reported boat fire just before 2 p.m. and found three docked vessels “fully involved,” the Madeira Beach Fire Department wrote in a social media post. The report “quickly escalated into a multi-agency fire and hazmat response.”
Crews used two preconnected hoses - one to tackle the burning boats and the other to prevent the fire from spreading. As more crews arrived, two more hoses were available and foam was used to help put out the flames.
Man Dies After Falling Off Boat on Texas Lake
12/1/25 – Irving, TX
A man died after falling off a boat on a lake in Irving, Texas, on the night of 1 December, according to Irving police.
Irving police and firefighters first responded to an emergency call at around 7:45 p.m., with the caller reporting that a man had fallen from a boat into Vilbig Lake and could not be seen. The victim was not wearing a life jacket when he went into the water.
Officers deployed drones while firefighters canvassed the area. A dive team from Lewisville, Texas, also assisted in the initial search. The victim was not located that night, and the search was suspended until the following morning.
The search resumed on 2 December with the help of multiple fire departments, dive teams, and the Texas Game Wardens. The victim's body was recovered around 2:15 p.m.
He was later identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office as 51-year-old Dominic Brown. The investigation into the incident was ongoing.
Crews Respond to Boat Fire at Lake of the Ozarks
12/2/25 – Camden Co., MO
Crews were dispatched to a reported boating incident in Camden County, Missouri, on 2 December.
The Mid-County Fire Protection District responded to a boat fire on Neongwah Bend Road in Camdenton, where Firefighters discovered a bass boat on fire while docked next to a pontoon. Authorities suspected the lithium-ion batteries that powered the boat might be the culprit.
According to a press release, one tanker, one squad and one engine were used in the response to contain the fire. Damage was limited to just the bass boat and a portion of the dock. No injuries were reported from the incident.
To access BoatTEST’s archived “Accidents of the Week” become of a VIP Member of BoatTEST and learn how you can avoid accidents of all types. Click here...