Boat collision near Bay Harbor Islands injures four, suspect arrested

Early Saturday morning, two vessels—a 38‑foot Donzi powerboat and a 20‑foot angler—collided in the Intracoastal Waterway near West Broadview Drive, Bay Harbor Islands, Miami‑Dade County. The crash occurred around 1:15 a.m. and caused the larger boat to take on water and partially sink, while the smaller boat suffered severe damage to its bow.

Four people were hospitalized: a woman, a juvenile, and two additional passengers. Police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission secured the scene, tied the submerged vessel to a patrol vehicle, and later towed both boats away.

Investigators arrested Daniel Lawson, identified as the operator of the Donzi, charging him with reckless operation of a vessel, leaving the scene of a boating accident with injury, and tampering with physical evidence. He was released on a $45,000 bond pending further court proceedings.