Everglades Tourists Injured in Airboats Crash
Some passengers aboard were even dumped into alligator-infested waters.
— -- Tourists seeking to get an up close and personal look at wildlife in Florida's Everglades National Park got a little more than they bargained for recently, when the airboats they were traveling in sideswiped each other.
More than 20 people were injured in the crash, which occurred at Gator Park in West Miami-Dade on Monday as the boats were touring the Everglades, authorities said.
"One girl nearly fell. ... She was half in the water and half in our boat," passenger Jane Austin told local ABC affiliate WPLG-TV. "It was full throttle."
Monica, a saleswoman at Gator Park who asked that her last name not be used, said the tours usually lasted 35 minutes. Nearly 50 people, including the tour guides, were on board at the time Monday, authorities said.
The accident caused some of the passengers to be thrown overboard in waters known to be infested with alligators. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said that more than half of the boats' passengers were taken to hospitals for "minor injuries." Monica said some passengers had suffered bruises and cuts.
"You just had to brace yourself and hold on," passenger Peter Brown told WPLG-TV. "Once it happened, [there was] obviously lots of screaming."
Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was reportedly investigating the incident. Calls to the commission by ABC News were not immediately returned.
The Gator Park saleswoman told ABC News today that this was the first crash that she was aware of in the 25-year history of Gator Park. She said that some passengers involved in the crash had returned later Monday for another airboat ride while others had requested a refund.
"The boats are back safe," she said. "Everything is in drivable condition."
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