FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A 13-year-old girl has died and her 16-year-old sister remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after the personal watercraft they were riding slammed into a dock in Fort Lauderdale, authorities confirmed.
The crash happened just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Intracoastal Waterway near the 2800 block of Northeast 24th Court, between the Oakland Park and Sunrise Boulevard bridges, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.
6 p.m. report:
Authorities said the sisters were “riding in tandem” on a single personal watercraft when it struck the dock.
They said medics transported both to Broward Health Medical Center. One girl later died; the other remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed.
Rabbi Mark Rosenberg later confirmed the identities of the victims as Rachel Aliza Nisanov, 13, of New York, who died in the accident, and Aviva Bracha Nisanov, 16, who sustained life-threatening injuries.
Rosenberg also said the parents of both siblings were riding on another personal watercraft when the crash occurred. He also confirmed that Rochel will be buried in Israel.
4 p.m. report:
FWC, which is leading the investigation, also confirmed that only one personal watercraft was involved. No additional details, including the identities of the teens, have been released.
Editor’s note: Fire officials initially reported that two personal watercraft were involved. The FWC initially told Local 10 the girl who died was 14 but later confirmed she was 13.
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