Sherriff’s Airboat Crashes Into Florida Everglades Tour Boat: Two Injured

A tour of the Florida Everglades turned into a disaster when two airboats crashed in Palm Beach County.

The boat crash occurred on Wednesday, March 16 at about 1:30 p.m. Two airboats, a tour boat operated by the company “Ride The Wind” and a Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Department boat, collided in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Although, the maritime accident is still under investigation, Captain Randy Meeker is blaming the Sherriff’s Office for the wreck. Meeker was operating a tour boat with 5 passengers. The seaman was headed south while the Sherriff’s Department boat was headed north. The captain sad he tried to prevent the crash, and while he was able to avoid a head on collision the impact was inescapable.

One passenger on the tour boat sprained an ankle. Two Palm Beach deputies on the other boat were thrown into the water and sustained more serious injuries. One man was air lifted to the hospital for treatment of a badly injured leg and severed toe.

The tour-boat was totaled in the crash. Captain Meeker says without his boat he is unable to work and earn a living.