Noted Nightclub Promoter Capponi Recovering After Boat Crash
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Noted nightclub promoter, developer and humanitarian Michael Capponi is still recovering in the hospital after a boat crash.
The boat, with Capponi and a friend on board, slammed head-on into a seawall about 10 a.m. Friday.
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Surveillance video shows a 25-foot boat speeding straight toward the seawall at the Coast Guard station on Miami Beach. Without slowing down, just off camera, the boat crashes. In moments, members of the Coast Guard run toward the badly damaged boat.
Friends identified the two people on board that boat as Capponi and Brooke Biederman.
Capponi made a name for himself promoting nightclubs in the 90s and is stays involved the South Beach nightlife scene.
David Grutman, operating partner of clubs LIV and Story said, "Michael's worked with us when we opened up LIV and now Story as well. He's worked with us since our grand opening."
Capponi is also a noted developer and humanitarian, with a particular passion for Haiti.
"Anytime there's a crisis, Michael's the first one to mobilize the Red Cross for Haiti or any of the charitable organizations that the nightlife community could help," said Grutman.
Grutman said he was shocked to hear about the crash.
He said Capponi is an experienced boater.
"He's probably one of the best boat drivers I've ever seen," he said.
Investigators say it's still not clear what caused the boat to crash.
Capponi and Biederman were rushed to the hospital, and Biederman is in critical condition.
The following day on facebook, Capponi posted an apparent picture from his hospital room, thanked friends for their well wishes and asked for continued blessings and prayers.
