On June 25, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) investigators arrested Man R. Erdman, 61, of Oakland Park, in Monroe County. He’s charged with one felony rely of cruising underneath the affect (BUI) manslaughter and 6 misdemeanors associated to the demise of Sydney A. Cole, 24, of North Carolina.
On Dec. 27, 2024, Erdman was working a 21-foot middle console vessel with three passengers. The vessel was touring by way of Buttonwood Sound when Erdman collided with an anchored sailboat, ejecting all 4 occupants. Good Samaritans recovered Erdman and the 2 different passengers. After a multi-agency search, Ms. Cole was later discovered useless within the water.
FWC’s investigation revealed that Erdman was consuming alcohol lower than an hour earlier than the collision, and toxicology outcomes confirmed that Erdman’s blood alcohol content material was practically twice the restrict on the time of the incident.
“This devastating and avoidable lack of a younger life underscores the risks of cruising underneath the affect,” stated Main Alberto Maza, FWC South Bravo Regional Commander. “If you happen to select to boat impaired, we are going to maintain you accountable.”
Erdman is scheduled to be arraigned July 15.
The FWC makes boating security enforcement a prime precedence. The general public is inspired to report harmful boating exercise by calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).