Florida boat crash kills 3 people, another injured. What we know

Florida boat crash kills 3 people, another injured. What we know

C. A. Bridges, J. Kyle Foster and Andrew West, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

Mon, December 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM UTC

3 min read

Three people have died and one is in critical but stable condition after a catamaran flipped Saturday, Nov. 29, on the Caloosahatchee River on the southwest Gulf Coast between Cape Coral and Fort Myers, authorities said.

The MTI 390 powerboat sent all four occupants into the water around 5 p.m. according to Bradley Johnson, public information officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which led the search and rescue mission and the ongoing investigation.

Here's what we know.

What happened in the Florida boat accident?

Not much is known about the incident yet, Johnson said, including the speed of the boat, what caused the flip or even who was driving. The incident did not appear to have involved any other vessels.

"Investigators are working on that," he said. "They are still trying to gather all that."

A witness told Fox 4 it appeared the boat was traveling between 75 and 80 mph, but that has not been substantiated.

Johnson said that the outboard motors seem to have come off the vessel at some point. The boat has been moved to an evidence facility for investigation.

Wind conditions could have been a factor, he said Saturday, potentially affecting visibility and steering. Winds in Cape Coral that afternoon ranged from 8-15 mph, with gusts up to 22, according to the National Weather Service.

Prayers and questions: Cape Coral boat crash social media reaction

Other boaters rushed to help, he said.

Boater Trenton Zamniak, who was nearby when the boat flipped, told Gulf Coast News Now that the boat "nosed up about 90 degrees and slips right over back." He and his friends administered CPR to an unconscious man they found bobbing in the water until first responders arrived.

Lee County Sheriff's Department, Cape Coral Police Department, Cape Coral Fire Department, Sanibel Police Department, Matlacha Fire Department, Iona McGregor Fire District and the U.S. Coast Guard all responded.

Who was killed in the boat accident in Cape Coral?

Brenna Millett, Rebecca Knight and Neal Kirby were recovered and taken to a local hospital after the incident. MIllett and Knight died Saturday night, Johnson said. Kirby was still in critical but stable condition Sunday afternoon.

Craig Millett, 60, remained missing during an overnight search by dive crews until his submerged body was found around 12:30 p.m. Sunday in open water near the incident close to Redfish Point, Johnson said.

Where was the boat accident in Cape Coral?

The speedboat flipped in the Caloosahatchee River off Cape Coral near the Cape Coral Yacht Club, Johnson said.

He said the incident occurred in the main intercoastal areas, away from restricted areas.

Where is the Caloosahatchee River in Florida?

The 67-mile Caloosahatchee River runs across the southwest part of the state from Lake Hicpochee in Glades County. It grows into a broad estuary and expands in size by the time it passes Fort Myers and Cape Coral to reach the Gulf in San Carlos Bay, near Sanibel Island.

The scenic river is popular for boating and fishing.

What type of boat was involved in the Florida boating accident?

The boat was a 39-foot MTI speedboat, authorities said.

The model has not been released. Marine Technology Inc. currently offers two 39.4-foot models, both catamarans with Twin Mercury 450R outboard motors.

Contributing: Stacey Henson and Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News Press

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida boating accident leaves 3 dead, 1 critical. What we know

About Our Ads

Source