Expand / Collapse search
☰
Hurricane Warning
is in effect, Sumter County, Northern Lake County, Southern Lake County, Orange County, Seminole County, Inland Volusia County, Osceola County, Coastal Volusia County, Inland Flagler County, Coastal Flagler County
8
Storm Surge Warning
is in effect, Coastal Volusia County, Coastal Flagler County
River Flood Warning
is in effect, Sumter County, Polk County, Volusia County, Lake County
Flood Watch
until THU 6:00 PM EDT, Coastal Flagler County, Inland Flagler County
Rip Current Statement
from WED 1:59 AM EDT until THU 8:00 PM EDT, Coastal Flagler County
Flood Watch
until THU 8:00 PM EDT, Sumter County
Tropical Weather Statement
is in effect, Sumter County, Coastal Flagler County, Inland Flagler County, Southern Lake County, Coastal Volusia County, Osceola County, Seminole County, Orange County, Northern Lake County, Inland Volusia County
Rip Current Statement
from WED 3:00 AM EDT until THU 8:00 PM EDT, Coastal Volusia County

3 remain hospitalized following boat crash

Published  April 5, 2016 10:59pm EDT
News
FOX 35 Orlando

MAITLAND, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A scary boat crash on Lake Maitland has left three young people hospitalized.  One of them is the daughter of Republican State Senator David Simmons, of Altamonte Springs.  Police say her aunt has been charged with boating under the influence.   

In total, eight people were on that boat when it crashed into a retaining wall behind a home in Maitland this morning.  It has been a long day at Orlando Regional Medical Center for Senator David Simmons and the parents of two young men who were seriously hurt in the crash.

Earlier, 45-year-old Krystyna Vitiello bonded out of the Orange County Jail. She is charged with boating under the influence.  

Dawn Smith’s son, Paul, was on the boat when it crashed.  “They called me in the middle of the night. I was there as soon as I could be.”  Smith said her son is friends with some of the people on the boat.  She has not had a chance to get details about what went wrong, but she says Paul is in a lot of pain now. “Now he’s not functioning. Like walk down the stairs and he says it’s like something is crunching."

Maitland Police said two young men were rushed to ORMC with serious injuries.  Sen. Simmons said his 18-year-old daughter, Alicya, broke her leg in the crash and underwent surgery. “I am fortunate that she is going to be ok.  I am lucky. I have a lot of people who have said a lot of prayers. The outpouring of support has been fantastic,” said Sen. Simmons.

Smith is relieved her son was not seriously hurt, but she still wants answers about what led up to the crash. “When I showed up, I was hugging him and yelling at him.  Hugging him and yelling at him.  I’ve told him many times not to go on a boat in the dark.  So I don’t know whose idea it was. Don’t know anything at all.”

Sen. Simmons said the boat involved in the crash is registered to a company he owns.  Simmons says he only used the boat two times.