Friday December 13, 2024
OCHOPEE, Fla.–Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours regrets that a collision involving two airboats occurred this afternoon.
We immediately contacted local area emergency authorities, who responded rapidly to the scene, providing care to the passengers.
Following the accident, we began working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the sheriff’s office to aid in their investigations, which are ongoing.
All of us at Wooten’s offer our sincere sympathies to everyone involved, and wish them a speedy recovery.
December 23, 2024 Update
Out of respect for the privacy of all involved and because of the ongoing investigation, we can’t discuss the specifics of this accident, but we’d like to say more about how we prioritize safety at Wooten’s. Over the last eleven years, on hundreds of thousands of tours and for millions of guests, we’ve maintained an exemplary safety record, with industry-leading practices designed to protect our employees, guests, partners, and communities.
All Wooten’s captains have at least a decade of experience and have completed all boater and airboat safety courses required by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). In fact, Wooten’s is one of a few organizations licensed by FWC to instruct airboat safety classes to captains who work at other companies.
We want to thank everyone involved in the response to this accident for their dedication and professionalism.