CRESCENT CITY, Fla. — A man was killed Friday morning in a boat crash in Crescent City, authorities said.
Rescue teams were called to the area at about 6:42 a.m. for the crash that happened near 100 Grove Avenue.
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The Crescent City boat ramp was closed due to the crash.
Multiple rescue teams and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to the scene.
It was supposed to be a relaxing Friday morning on Crescent Lake for Sander Northrop, but instead she watched two boats collide in a deadly crash.
“I was just sitting down with my coffee, and I hadn’t even taken a sip yet,” Northrop said. “There were two boats out in the water and I looked at them and I thought, ‘boy they look like they’re heading straight for each other’ and as quick as the thought was, they hit.”
FWC said the crash happened just before 7 a.m. on Crescent Lake. Both boats each only had one person on board. The impact of the crash threw both men into the water. Both had life jackets on.
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Northrop immediately called 911 and started screaming to her neighbors for help. She was able to get the attention of two groups of people who had boats.
Both boats quickly got into the water and got both men back to shore. One of the boat captains had little to no injuries. The other captain was transported to a hospital and died from his injuries.
Action News Jax was able to speak with the boater who survived the crash. He didn’t want to go on camera, but he said that fog was not a factor of this crash. He said the lake was clear.
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He told Action News Jax he was driving his boat just after 6:30 a.m. near Bear Island when he noticed a trash bag in the water.
He said he went to circle back and grab the trash bag. He didn’t get it, and by the time he pushed the throttle forward, he says another boat hit him head on.
The FWC is leading the investigation. PCSO said this is the first boating death in Putnam County in 2026.
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