KEY WEST (DDN) – The charter captain of the boat that smashed into a Florida Keys bridge in July, injuring seven people, including a toddler, was arrested this week on drunken boating charges.

Laurence Lee Lewis Jr., 42, of Big Pine Key, was arrested and charged with boating under the influence, child negligence, and seven other felonies on Thursday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The crash.
On July 8, 2024, a 35-foot-long Sea Hunter center console boat collided with the South Pine Channel bridge at a “high rate of speed,” according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Bodycam footage from the rescue revealed that rescuers responded rapidly to the event, getting people off the vessel as it began to sink.

According to the FWC’s initial incident report, all seven passengers on board were “ejected or stuck amongst the pieces” of the boat during the rescue.

Two of the victims, a 28-year-old lady and an 11-year-old kid, had to be evacuated to the hospital due to severe injuries. The other four were also sent to local hospitals due to their injuries.

According to the FWC’s preliminary investigation, alcohol appeared to be a factor in the crash, but no arrests were made at the time.

According to the FWC’s most recent statement, the boat passengers saw Lewis drinking alcohol throughout the day leading up to the incident, and alcoholic bottles and paraphernalia were discovered at the scene.

Reference