VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Investigators are still trying to piece together what caused a boating accident in Volusia County that killed a father, his 19-year-old pregnant daughter and her unborn baby.
SLIDESHOW: Boats Collide In Ponce Inlet
A total of 13 people were in two boats at Disappearing Island off Ponce Inlet in New Smyrna Beach on Monday. Somehow, a larger red boat ran over the top of a smaller boat killing the man, his daughter and her unborn child; the young woman killed was just weeks away from giving birth.
Now, investigators are trying to figure out exactly how the deadly incident happened.
The victims were identified as 46-year-old Cy Holley and his pregnant 19-year-old daughter, Madison. They both lived in Volusia County near DeLand.
"There were seven people in one of the boats and six in another boat, but the boats were not overloaded," said Joy Hill, Florida Fish and Wildlife.
Three other people were admitted to a local hospital due to injured; two of them were released from Bert Fish Medical Center Tuesday. Officials have not released their names or how they may be related to the father and daughter.
The crash happened in the Intracoastal Waterway, very close to the Coast Guard station in New Smyrna Beach. A witness told investigators they saw the two boats speeding side-by-side before the crash and that the larger boat impacted a third boat before going over the top of the small boat.
Investigators haven't said yet what caused that boat to jump up on top of the smaller one, only that a wake from a third boat may have played a part in the crash.
Officials say it's too early to know if alcohol was a factor in the crash. They said their interviews were hampered by the shock of those involved in the crash.
"Right now, we are dealing with grieving families and friends. We're just now beginning to gather information," Hill said. "You have a mother whose now lost a husband and a daughter and a grandchild."
Both boats were put on trailers at the Coast Guard station in New Smyrna Beach. The plan was to tow them to a facility where investigators can take a closer look.
Questions about alcohol, speeding and reckless boating are all things investigators are still looking into.
WFTV checked and found out, before this accident, 26 people had died in boating crashes in Florida so far this year.
WFTV
