Alabama man accused of purposely crashing boat into another vessel

PENSACOLA, Fla. — An Alabama man is accused of intentionally crashing his boat into another vessel off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, authorities said.

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Kenneth Arnold Gordon, 52, of Orange Beach, was arrested Monday and charged with reckless operation of a vessel, failure to report an accident, aggravated battery and criminal mischief, according to Escambia County online booking records.

Gordon was released Tuesday after posting $5,500, online records show.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the incident occurred Aug. 14 between a seafoam green 2020 Nautic Star and a black 2018 Key West, WKRG reported. Both boats were registered to Alabama residents, according to the FWC.

Gordon and his passengers allegedly became angry when the other boat created a wake that caused his vessel to rock near Robertson Island, AL.com reported.

Gordon’s boat caught up to the other vessel a short time later and collided with it, causing two passengers on his boat to fall into the water, WKRG reported.

Gordon suffered four broken ribs and a collapsed lung, the television station reported. Other passengers on Gordon’s boat reported back pain and bruising.

Passengers on the other boat reported back pain and knee injuries, according to WKRG.

According to report to the FWC, two people on jet skis picked up the passengers who were ejected from the boat, WEAR reported.

It will cost approximately $6,000 to repair the boat’s damage, the television station reported.

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