Jacksonville man injured in accident on St. Johns River
News Release
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Media contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525
A Jacksonville man was injured in a boating accident that
happened Aug. 29 at 5 p.m., according to Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators.
Rodney M. Abernethy (DOB 07/04/45) was fishing on the north side
of the Fuller Warren Bridge in the St. Johns River. He was anchored
east of the center span bridge fender in his 1980, 17-foot,
center-console boat.
Investigators said the outgoing tide was running very strong and
at some point, the anchor line fouled the prop of the motor. This
caused the boat's stern to face the outgoing tide. Water poured
over the stern, sinking the vessel.
Abernethy was then caught up in the strong river current and was
found unconscious by a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office marine unit
south of the Acosta Railroad bridge, according to FWC
officials.
Deputies performed CPR and transferred him to the Jacksonville
Fire Rescue vessel. Abernethy was transported to Baptist Medical
Center.
The accident is still under investigation, FWC investigators
said.
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