Deadly ferry crash, one man killed, PortMiami shut down for hours
MIAMI - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is releasing new details about a deadly crash involving the Fisher Island Ferry and a 32-foot-long boat early Sunday morning.
In a new report, the FWC says it is not known if alcohol was a factor in the crash and said an arrest is "pending."
The 32-foot boat is now at an FWC site in North Miami and a CBS News Miami crew noticed that there are large cracks in the hull.
According to FWC, the Ferry collided with the boat at 3:40 Sunday morning in the middle of the channel, blocking access to and from the PortMiami for 11 hours.
FWC says 29-year-old Angel Dominguez of Hialeah was on board the boat and was rescued and rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. 27-year-old Christian Fernandez of Cutler Bay was also on the boat and did not survive.
CBS News Miami's Chelsea Jones spoke to Russel Ramirez, who was with Dominguez and Fernandez hours before the crash.
Ramirez said that the loss is shocking. "It's eye-opening. You just got to take in every moment, every second. You're here one moment and gone the next."
The FWC report says the boat operator stayed on the scene and tried to help the victim.
CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench spoke with Jean-Noel, who was a deckhand on board the Ferry. His attorney Marc Schwartz said Noel had been a deckhand on board the Ferry for the past 4 years and was injured while trying to help rescue Dominguez and because of the impact.
Noel said he was seeking medical attention. His attorney said the 3rd person on board the Ferry was also an employee.
Noel said he thought the boat that hit the Ferry was speeding but FWC has not confirmed that.
While access to the PortMiami was shut down for 11 hours, more than 15,000 passengers were stuck out at sea and more than 16,000 passengers were waiting to leave on cruise ships.
Cruise ship passenger Nick Pirozzi said, "I received a text message that ships were going to be delayed for 3 hours." But it was much longer.
"It was a madhouse," he said. "There were fist fights that broke out and Miami-Dade Police were called. I was frustrated and I understand about the accident and I'm sure the other passengers do as well. However, all of this is just frustrating."
Pirozzi had been on the MSC Seascape. He was given a $20 credit for his cruise, refunds for any missed excursions and updated travel itinerary.
Per Port Miami, NCL Escape departed at 11:40 p.m., Carnival Celebration at 1:39 a.m. and MSC Seascape at 2:34 a.m.
