Lake Jessup airboat crash?

[Bad2Bone]

Prayers sent for all involved

[Muddyduck]

Terrible news to hear especially this time of year. The Cruzs are a bunch of great people who have devoted much of their lives to the the airboat community. There is a big hole in my heart and the airboat world. Prayers for all of the family and friends...just don't have the right words.

[CRACKERSTYLE]

Cruz crew your in our prayers...

[SwampMatt]

[rick]

Terrible news to hear especially this time of year. The Crews are a bunch of great people who have devoted much of their lives to the the airboat community. There is a big hole in my heart and the airboat world. Prayers for all of the family and friends...just don't have the right words.

I'd say that's the right words Muddyduck.

I"ve known the "Cruz Crew" for about 10 years now and know that they've devoted time to the Broward Club, Lake County Club, Florida Airboat Assoc., and SA and I'm sure there's more that I not aware of.

Shirley, thanks for the update on Vickie.

Rick

[dudley]

I'm just lost for words.
All of them are just great folks and fun to be around. My heart and prayers are with the family in the bad days to come.

[RP]

Praying for all involved.

[Brotherbob]

Prayers from The BRAB in Texas! We are quite removed from you folks distance wise but I believe Vickie was the one from the FAA that kept us Texas Airboaters up to snuff on things FAA related?
Sad deal , does anyone know how this happened? High water and a low bridge?
BB

[SwampMatt]

Brotherbob, To try to answer your question - I live on the lake, and it's an expressway bridge (2 parallel bridges - typical of a 4 lane divided highway - each bridge has wide emergency lanes too) I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT, but I can tell of my own experience running that bridge: It's very tempting to get between the bridges, and "run the gauntlet" going along with traffic. It's nearly a mile and a half long run in a concrete "lane" in the middle of a huge lake. Very tempting to run it. I gave in to the temptation one day a couple years ago - by the time I was up on plane, sorta keeping up with traffic on the road just a few feet to the side, I realized that if someone threw a bottle or piece of trash... anything that #1 could hit me, and especially #2 if it would cause me to swerve to dodge it - there is no place to go except into one of the cement pillars. I'll never do that again. Ever.

I don't know if they had the same temptation or what.

The water is up, I've not been down that way since it came up. Usually it's pretty tight fit under the bridge with water like this, but being that it was a deckover it's lower than most boats. If they did cross under the bridge, since it's two bridges side by side, there is a lot of concrete pillars to hit, and the street lights up on the highway sorta throw off your senses in foggy conditions... they might have went under one, thought it was both, and banked right into the second bridge. It's hard to speculate until Vicki and Leslie tell their stories - if they decide to tell at all.

It's a terrible thing to have happen to a family. And the worst isn't yet here. After all the condolences of friends settle down, and a routine gets developed - there'll come a holiday, or a birthday, or a race or ball game... or even just getting out of bed by yourself without that loved one there and getting one less plate from the cabinet for breakfast... tears are going to flow for some time. Leslie and Vicki are two of the strongest women I know. They'll be fine, but many of us know the pain so heavy on our shoulders that it literally forces us to our knees in tears - it's something they'll know and something they'll conquer. But the pain will never fully go away. And the same for all of us to one degree or another.

[SwampMatt]

There have been a lot of large airboats out on the lake today, has there been some kind of salvage effort by friends? Or did the state bring in their own salvage team? I know they like to impound boats from accidents. Too busy to get out there to see what was going on, I just heard a lot of big motor airboats out there that usually aren't heard.

[ptillman]

Prayers to the Cruz's family and all involved. Sorry to hear such bad news of our large airboat family:(

[Brotherbob]

Matt thanks for for the insight , we just run different water down here. So sorry for the families and continued prayers for all.
May the good Lord heal the ones in the hospital.
BB

[HuntingBigun]

There have been a lot of large airboats out on the lake today, has there been some kind of salvage effort by friends? Or did the state bring in their own salvage team? I know they like to impound boats from accidents. Too busy to get out there to see what was going on, I just heard a lot of big motor airboats out there that usually aren't heard.

matt The boat is in a FWC yard, it did not sink and hit the bottom of the bridge not the pillings. I totally agree with when it gets quiet and all things seem to calm down it will be very hard on everyone. Prayers for Vicki and all the Family members of all 5 people in this tragic accident.

[Champ18ft]

For those that would like to Donate to help with Costs you can Donate at these sites:

https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/ ... e=facebook

http://www.gofundme.com/jhce0o

[SwampMatt]

Thanks Wayne.

[HuntingBigun]

Thanks Wayne.

No problem great seeing you back on SA, see ya on the pond sometimes Matt

[newoldglory]

There are no words to express our loss. But I am reminded that we cry for ourselves and OUR loss, not the ones that passed through.

[Stewie]

Our prayers to everyone and their families!! God bless you all!

[rick]

For those that would like to Donate to help with Costs you can Donate at these sites:

https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/ ... e=facebook

http://www.gofundme.com/jhce0o

Appreciate the links Bob. We'll help as much as we can with both.

Rick

[Shrimp Lady]

For those that would like to Donate to help with Costs you can Donate at these sites:

https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/ ... e=facebook

http://www.gofundme.com/jhce0o

PLEASE help . . . no amount is too small. $10.00 helps to make $100's, $100's make $1,000's. We're talking "airboat family" here folks. Thank you for anything you can do ! Be an angel on earth. God bless

[Lmgmts]

Thank you all for your thoughtful condolences. Lesley and all of the families appreciate the prayers and support they are getting from everyone. It is going to be a long hard road on them all. Please continue to share the websites for donations on here as well as copy and pasting the links to Facebook. Thank you all

[Dakota]

Continue to pray for Vickie!! She is having a pretty extensive surgery today! She has also been kept in a medically induced coma. She is going to need ALOT of recovery! She also will have to deal with the emotional when she finds out about her brother and her boyfriend.

[Lmgmts]

Just talked to Lesley, she is sounding so much better this morning. She will be setting up an account got donations at her bank. Will keep you all posted. We are also setting up a Gofundme for Rhonda. She is out of the hospital but will still need support in this very emotional time.

[Shrimp Lady]

Just talked to Lesley, she is sounding so much better this morning. She will be setting up an account got donations at her bank. Will keep you all posted. We are also setting up a Gofundme for Rhonda. She is out of the hospital but will still need support in this very emotional time.

Thank you for keeping us updated. It is a bit difficult to keep up when we are all spread all over the state of Florida and the country for that matter. Keeping everyone in prayer daily!

[glades cat]

Again, what a tragic occurrence.
Keeping you all in our prayers.
Will support with what we can.