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One person died and five others were ejected from a boat that was involved in a powerboat race in the Florida Keys, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Friday.
At about 4 p.m. Thursday, FWC officers were notified of a single vessel accident in Monroe County, spokeswoman Arielle Callender said.
The vessel, a 39-foot Deep Impact with operator Reinaldo Aquit, 47, of Miami Beach, and seven passengers was traveling from Miami to Key West.
While navigating in Calda Channel north of Key West, the vessel made a hard right and overturned, causing six aboard to be ejected.
Good Samaritans on nearby vessels assisted those in the water.
The victims, including Aquit, were taken to local hospitals for treatment with one deceased, Callender said.
On Friday, the fatal victim was identified as Stephanie Marie Rodriguez, 28, of Hialeah.
On a fundraising platform, Stephanie is described as a “Kind, loving, and playful person whose warmth touched everyone she met.”
The post goes on to say, “To know her was to love her. Her sudden departure has left her family and friends heartbroken and struggling to comprehend this immense loss.”
