FWC Identify People In Dania Beach Boat Crash
DANIA BEACH (CBSMiami) -- Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officials identified a man killed and a woman injured in a boat accident in Dania Beach Friday.
According to FWC, David Duda,56, was killed and Marcella Ann Hewett, 50,from Hallandale was injured after the boat they were on crashed into a piling on a bridge over Old Griffin Road in Dania Beach.
FWC officers said Hewett who was driving the boat was traveling west in the Dania Cutoff Canal and trying to make a left turn to head south in the C-10 Canal.
"It's very early in the investigation but all the physical evidence would put to the fact that speed did indeed play a role in this particular accident," said FWC Spokesperson Jorge Pino on Friday.
Investigators spent the evening cruising the waters looking for evidence and taking photographs as they worked to reconstruct the accident scene and survey the boat.
"The boat has extensive damage to the front left portion of the vessel," Pino said.
Investigators said the Hewett was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover. People who live in this community just south of the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport said they didn't hear the crash but they said they were surprised to hear that speed would have been a factor.
"It shouldn't have been," said Alan Brenden. "It's a no-wake area."
FWC says it's a no-wake, low-speed area because of the manatees in these canals.
Neighbors say a sudden death like this is difficult at any time but more so during the holidays.
"It's very, very unfortunate," said Edward Shevchuk. "I feel for the family especially at this time of the year."
Fish and Wildlife officers spoke to Hewett at the hospital Friday night trying to understand exactly how this happened.
