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St. Petersburg Jetty has Been the Cause of Three Boating Accidents

A St. Petersburg boating accident killed a teenage girl in the channel leading into Bayboro Harbor in St. Petersburg. The accident occurred at approximately 11:24 PM on Friday night, October 2, 2009.

According to Gary Morse, of the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Paige Alyssa Davidson, 17, of St. Petersburg, was killed when the boat she was on crashed into a jetty near Albert Whitted Airport. Davidson was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were four other teenagers onboard at the time of the incident. They all suffered injuries and were transported to local hospitals including Bayfront Medical Center and All Children’s Hospital.

David West, 18, of St. Petersburg, was driving the boat at the time the 22-foot center-console boat struck the jetty, according to Morse. The teenagers were returning from a shark-fishing expedition.

The names of the other three victims have not been released. Morse said that the Florida boating incident is still under investigation.

According to authorities, there have been at least three boating accidents involving this same jetty within the last four years.

“Based upon the tragedy over the weekend, the city is conducting an internal investigation,” said Assistant City Attorney Joseph Patner.

The governor has ordered lights to be installed along the wall in the St. Petersburg channel.

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