Fort Lauderdale Personal Watercraft Crash Kills Teen, Injures Sister

Tragic Watercraft Accident

• 💔 A family vacation turned tragic in Fort Lauderdale when two sisters riding a personal watercraft slammed into a dock.
• 📌 13-year-old Rachel Nisavov was killed in the incident, while her 16-year-old sister, Aviva Nisavov, was injured.

Rental Company and Safety Procedures

• 🚤 The family rented the watercraft from Fort Lauderdale company Prime Water Sports on Tuesday afternoon.
• 🧑‍🏫 The owner stated the sisters were first-time riders and emphasized that they had taken an online boater safety course required by law.
• ⚠️ The company policy is to never send customers out alone, always providing a tour guide, especially for first-time riders.

Investigation Details

• 🌊 Florida Fish and Wildlife is investigating the crash, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the intracoastal waterway.
• ❓ Investigators are working to determine exactly what happened and who was operating the watercraft at the time of the collision.
• 🛥️ Preliminary information suggests the girls may have jumped awake from a passing boat before losing control.

Rental Laws and Age Requirements

• 🔞 Under Florida law, individuals must be 18 years old to rent a personal watercraft.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 However, a parent can rent one for a child as long as the child is 14 years or older.
• ⚖️ The minimum age to operate a jet ski or wave runner in Florida is 14 years old.