MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Newly released video captured the moments two boats collided in Biscayne Bay, injuring more than a dozen people.
“You have people that were rendered unconscious, people that suffered serious injuries,” said attorney Thomas Graham, whose firm Mausner Graham Injury Law is representing four of the victims.
Thirteen people were rushed to the hospital following the collision that occurred on Feb. 11 in Biscayne Bay.
One of the victims, a tourist from New York, was taking a video on Instagram and inadvertently recorded the impact.
“At the time, she was taking a selfie on Instagram, recording that video,” attorney Eric Mausner said.
That video is a key piece of evidence that her attorneys are using to prove negligence in a pending civil lawsuit.
“We actually believe that both vessels are at fault,” said Graham. “On a water body like this, there are on-land navigation rules that you are required to follow and it’s basic common sense, such as maintain a safe speed, maintain a safe lookout and avoid collisions.”
The 55-foot Thriller speedboat was left heavily damaged, with its seats rearranged by the impact that violently tossed and injured passengers.
The other boat involved in the crash was a 43-foot luxury boat that the U.S. Coast Guard believes may have been operating as an illegal charter.
While an official investigation has yet to be completed, the video offers a rare glimpse at how things went so wrong.