Matanzas Pass Bridge shrimp boat makes it under on 3rd attempt

Reporter: Tiffany Rizzo Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
Credit: The Florida Department of Transportation

The Florida Department of Transportation has reported that the Matanzas Pass Bridge was hit again by the same passing shrimp boat that struck it a day before.

FDOT released a statement on Tuesday noting that the shrimp boat had made contact with the bridge sometime that morning; however, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office marine unit, there was no visible damage to the bridge.

According to FDOT, the Matanzas Pass Bridge remained open to vehicle traffic after the most recent strike.

On Monday, the boat, named Captain Jack Two, crashed into the bridge at around 10 a.m. before being dislodged at 1 p.m.

FDOT dispatched a bridge inspection team to assess the structure eand completed their inspection by the early afternoon.

David Richardson, a captain for the Sailing Charter in Fort Myers, spoke with WINK News, claiming that he had seen the boat crash into the bridge.

There was nothing he could do; it was an accident, said Richardson. “Things like that happen, and I feel bad for him, but, you know, what can you do?”

Due to high tide, the water had risen, making passage from underneath the bridge difficult for boaters.

According to the owner of Captain Jack Two, he was attempting to navigate the boat back to the dock.

WINK News reporter Tiffany Rizzo spoke with the Fleet Commander, Jesse Claphan, who said he climbed the outriggers and torched them in half to make the boat fit under the bridge.

“I went out there, and we lowered the outriggers down … and I climbed out there and cut them in half and picked them up and chained them off to the side of the boat,” said Claphan.

The family-owned business just bought the new shrimp boat from Texas and was trying to bring it home.

However, its outriggers were 10 feet longer than the average shrimp boat on Fort Myers Beach beach, so they ran into some trouble Monday trying to go under the Matanzas Pass Bridge.

They waited until low tide Tuesday morning, but it was still too tall.

Finally third time was the charm Tuesday, as a little before 4 p.m., their boat was able to make it home.

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