Pinellas County boat accident leaves 16-year-old girl dead

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – A 16-year-old girl died in a boat accident in the Intracoastal Waterway over the weekend, according to WFLA.

Authorities said the crash occurred after a boat with seven teenagers on board left a Halloween party in the Treasure Island area at about 1 a.m. Sunday.

A 16-year-old boy was driving the boat back to his house in Largo when it crashed into a channel marker and threw its passengers into the water. The body of one of them was located later, after she apparently drowned. The victim was identified as Rachel Herring.

The teen who was driving the boat was arrested and charged with negligent homicide. The Pinellas County Sheriff said he had been speeding in a no wake zone at the time of the crash.  The sheriff said some of the teens on the boat had been drinking, but that impairment did not appear to have contributed to the incident.  The boat belongs to the operator’s parents.

Boat accidents often cause severe injuries, a need for emergency medical assistance, boat damage, and lasting physical and emotional scars for the accident victims. If you have been involved in a boating or personal watercraft accident on a Florida waterway, you need legal representation from a personal injury lawyer who understands boating law.  The Pinellas County Boat Accident Lawyers at Kemp Law Group Law Group will be on your side to protect your rights. Get started today by calling us at 727-847-4878 or responding in our online chat box.