Boat accident on St. Johns River leaves residents heartbroken
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A boat capsized on the St. Johns River, leaving one person dead and three missing, including two children.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE: The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for the three remaining missing people.

The search for a missing adult and two missing children continues Saturday after a boat capsized on the St. Johns River near Jacksonville’s Dames Point Bridge Friday evening, sending eight into the water.

JFRD Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said crews responded to a call of a capsized boat near the Dames Point Bridge in Jacksonville around 8 p.m. Friday with multiple people in the water.

JFRD responded with four rescue boats to the scene, finding four people still onboard the overturned 18-foot boat and rescuing them from the water. 

“We have recovered the boat and it was flipped,” JFRD Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said. “We flipped it back over and it was towed back to the dock, and FWC is doing their investigation on it now.”

Prosswimmer said crews were told four other people were still missing, including two children, and a search began. 

First responders with JFRD, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Wildlife Commission, and others were on scene searching, finding one person dead near the boat.

The Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville was notified around 7 p.m. and alerted other agencies, including JFRD, to respond. The Coast Guard said Saturday crews are searching for an adult and two minors.

As the search continues for the missing boaters, residents of the Mill Cove community are reacting to the news.

Candice Biggers said that she’s been living in Mill Cove community for more than six years, saying the area is very busy, especially during the warmer months. 

Biggers said she is completely devastated by what occurred near the Dames Point Bridge and said the area is where many families come and engage in outdoor activities like running and fishing. 

“I’m heartbroken, actually I’m just hearing about this, it’s a tragedy,” said Biggers.

Biggers told First Coast News education on boat safety is something that needs to be discussed more in the Jacksonville community.

“Sometimes during tragedies it makes us think what we shouldn’t have done and how important lifejackets are and everybody on board having those and it’s just both safety that everybody needs to do,” said Biggers.

Biggers said her prayers go out to all the families who have been directly affected, as the officials continue the investigation on this incident.

The Coast Guard is encouraging anyone with information to call Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville at (904) 714-7558.

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