A boating mishap at a popular Fort Lauderdale waterfront restaurant left several people with minor injuries Sunday evening after a 30-foot vessel slammed into a dock and crushed a smaller boat.
EarthCam footage captured the moment a Robalo powerboat crashed into the 15th Street Fisheries marina at approximately 7:30 p.m., with dozens of people nearby. The collision sent at least one man flying from a boat onto the dock; others had no time to react. Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Rescue responded quickly, and officials confirmed that no one required hospitalization.
South Florida boat captain Norm Bekoff, reviewing the footage, said the cause appeared straightforward. “It looks like he put it in forward instead of into reverse — it’s just that simple,” he said, noting the confined space left no room to correct the error.
One bystander was seen boarding the boat after the crash and restraining the driver until police arrived.
Diners at the restaurant expressed relief at their timing. “It’s quite frightening to think my son, wife, and I were right at that spot just 10 minutes before,” said Steve Messier.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the incident. The boat remained at the marina Monday, with visible damage to one of its engines. No word yet on whether the operator will face citations.
