Donald Craine, the former UF diving coach who died in a boating accident earlier this year, was responsible for the crash, a Florida Fish and Wildlife report now confirms.
Craine died at the age of 61 after being ejected from his 22-foot boat April 24.
On the day of the accident, Craine was on his boat with friend David West near Pine Island off of Cape Coral. Another vessel was coming around the same curve as Craine when he collided head-on with the other boat.
The driver of the other boat, Kenneth Krug, was driving his Sea Craft boat and remained within the channel markers. He and his party are not suspected of consuming any alcohol.
The report said Craine was speeding while making a sharp turn in his Pathfinder. He was suspected of consuming alcoholic beverages and did not remain within channel markers. Instead, Craine veered off course and hit Krug’s boat.
West saw Craine facedown in the water after he was ejected. West retrieved Craine from the water, got him onto the Sea Craft with the help of other boaters and administered CPR until Emergency Medical Services arrived, but Craine was pronounced dead.
Krug and someone else in his party were also ejected from the boat but both survived.
Months later, a report came out from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stating Craine was officially the one at fault.
Craine violated U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rule 14, which states when two parties suspect collision, they should act accordingly in order to prevent an accident. Because of these navigation rules, Craine violated a Florida statute that states it is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless manner.
Craine was the head coach of the UF diving team for 30 years and was named SEC Diving Coach of the Year four times while at UF.
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 9/23/2014 under the headline "UF diving coach’s accident in April ruled a result of safety rule violations"]
