A video captured the moment a rising drawbridge in south Florida partially crushed a pontoon boat, with several of those on board fleeing into the sea to avoid being injured.
Jillian Pisciotta photographed the moment a drawbridge operator began lifting the bridge span from the edge of the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter, Florida, last month in a series of photographs.
According to WFLA, Pisciotta informed the news service Storyful that the boat had come to a halt under the bridge before it began to ascend.
“After twenty minutes had passed, the drawbridge began to open to allow a sailboat through,” Pisciotta explained. “(The bridge) began to crush the boat, and me and my pals were completely taken aback, not knowing what to do.”
They claim that while trying to get away from the rain, the boat ended itself under a section of the bridge with signs stating “Unauthorized personnel banned,” “Danger: Moving Machinery,” and”No Trespassing; Violators Will Be Prosecuted,” among other things.
When the drawbridge began to raise, the machinery began to push on a portion of the boat, causing it to crash into the side, according to FOX 13 Tampa.
There were no reported injuries.
A Palm Beach County official informed WSVN that the bridge tender was not aware that a boat was passing underneath the bridge at the time.