Victims of capsized boat in Indian River identified
State officials have identified the two people who died when a boat capsized in the Indian River on Sunday as 65-year-old Stephanie Coleman and a 4-year-old boy.
Coleman is from New York and the boy is from Mims, according to a report released by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Their relationship is unclear.
The report says six people were on board an 18-foot Wellcraft boat when it was caught by a thunderstorm and began taking water over its bow, causing it to capsize. The boat flipped north of the Eau Gallie Causeway and south of Merritt Island.
Of the six people on board, two were uninjured, two suffered injuries and Coleman and the boy died at Holmes Regional Medical Center, according to FWC.
Contact Barchenger at 321-242-3669 or sbarchenger@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @sbarchenger.
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Investigators today will continue to look into the capsizing of a boat that trapped and killed two people in the Indian River on Sunday afternoon.
"Our guys were at the hospital late last night taking names and statements," said Lenny Salberg, a spokesman for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. FWC will take the lead in an investigation of the incident.
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MELBOURNE -- A 4-year-old boy and an elderly woman died after they were trapped beneath a capsized boat Sunday afternoon in the Indian River Lagoon after a squall struck.
The boat, a white 18-foot Wellcraft Sportsman, took on water amid 3-foot choppy waves and capsized about 4 p.m. roughly midway between Dragon Point and the Eau Gallie Causeway, said Lenny Salberg, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman.
Six people were aboard, and four made it off the boat. A group of about 20 fishermen, boaters, bystanders, firefighters and police charged into the river from the north side of Eau Gallie Boulevard to try to rescue the two trapped victims.
"When they flipped (the boat) upright, they found a child and an adult female underneath. They were all wearing their life jackets, from what I'm told," Salberg said.
The Good Samaritans rushed the victims to shore. Both were transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center in critical condition, Brevard County Fire Rescue District Chief Josh Shepherd said. They were later pronounced dead.
Salberg did not identify the victims Sunday. He said they were Brevard County residents, but he did not know if they were related.
FWC officials are investigating the accident and will take possession of the capsized vessel, which ended up beached against the causeway's rip rap breakwall. Hours after the accident, coolers and an orange life jacket remained left behind on the rocks.
Melbourne Police Cmdr. Vince Pryce praised the rescuers.
"Definitely heroic. We do appreciate the assistance we received from the public. Several fishermen, and boats that came out from Anchorage Marina. Their assistance was very valuable," Pryce said.
Sunday night, the police department tweeted this message: "Much thanks to the anglers & boaters that assisted @ the Indian River Lagoon this afternoon. You make our community stronger!"
A sailboat also capsized in the vicinity during the storm, Salberg said. Indian Harbour Beach resident Jeannie Adkins was driving to the mainland when the river turned rough.
"It was a washtub in there. And you could see the boats, and you could tell they were in trouble. These boats didn't have a chance," Adkins said.
Contact Neale at 321-242-3638, rneale@floridatoday.com or follow @RickNeale1