11 Rescued, 1 Dead After Boat Capsizes In Delray Beach

DELRAY BEACH (CBS4)- Eleven people were rescued after a boat capsized while being followed by the U.S. Coast Guard off Delray Beach Tuesday.

Petty Officer Nick Ameen said a Coast Guard cutter began following the 24-foot boat around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday because it did not have its navigational lights on.

The boat tried to elude authorities before stopping around 4 a.m. 12 miles off Delray Beach, according to Ameen.

That's when Ameen said the crew spotted numerous people emerging from the boat's lower cabin. Then the boat capsized.

Petty Officer Krystyna Hannum said one was taken to a hospital. According to the Sun Sentinel, the woman was rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach.

The rest are being questioned aboard the cutter.

Hannum said a Palm Beach County Sheriff's dive team found a woman's body beneath the sunken boat, which had drifted farther north, hours after it turned over.

In addition to the sheriff's dive team, the Coast Guard had two cutters, boat crews, a helicopter and propeller plane searching for the possible victim.

It's unclear why the boat did not have its lights on, Ameen said, adding that it may have already been taking on water when it was stopped, the Sentinel said.

The investigation is ongoing.

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