KEY BISCAYNE, Fla.-
Two boats collided during South Florida’s annual Columbus Day regatta, killing one person and leaving seven others critically or seriously injured, authorities said Sunday.
A boat with eight people aboard was being towed by another boat Saturday night near the Rickenbacker Causeway between Miami and Key Biscayne when it was struck by a third vessel that apparently came from behind, said Jorge Pino, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Another vessel being towed behind the boat that was struck escaped harm, Pino said.
All of the victims were in the first towed boat. Monica Burguera, 20, a college student from Miami, was killed. Four people were in critical condition and three others were in serious condition when they were transported to area hospitals, Pino said.
Hundreds of boaters were on the water this weekend for the regatta.
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