Water scooters collide, sending riders flying over water. One died, Florida cops say

Two water scooters rammed each other at such speed that one of the operators died after flying into the Intracoastal Waterway, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The identity of the victim and details of the injuries have not been released.

Investigators say the two personal watercraft, popularly known as a Jet Skis or Sea-Doos, collided shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, off Sand Key, about a 30-mile drive west from Tampa.

“The operators of the PWCs were both ejected into the water,” FWC officials said in a news release. “One was uninjured. The operator of the other PWC was transported to the hospital where they were sadly declared deceased as a result of the incident.”

An investigation is underway into the cause of the crash.

Weather conditions were fair and temperatures were in the 60s at the time, according to AccuWeather.

Personal watercraft can reach speeds of 70 mph, depending on the brand, but “typical” is 50 and 55 mph, according to Riva Motorsports & Marine.

This story was originally published December 2, 2024 at 9:01 AM with the headline "Water scooters collide, sending riders flying over water. One died, Florida cops say."