A Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputy took swift action to halt a runaway boat, which was traveling at a speed exceeding 40 mph, after its captain fell overboard.
On July 30, Deputy Fernandes and Deputy Constant, who serve in the Marine and Environmental Lands Unit, were called upon to assist the US Coast Guard in dealing with the runaway boat. The Coast Guard had previously attempted to stop the boat using a prop-fouling device, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The deputies managed to match the boat’s speed of 41 mph, allowing Deputy Fernandes to leap aboard and take control of the vessel.
The driver of the runaway boat was saved by a Good Samaritan, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
