UPDATE: 12:40PM
The Florida Department of Transportation says the damage caused by the shrimp boat was limited to "scrapes to the paint on the outside beam".
The bridge will remain open.
UPDATE: Tuesday, September 17th
On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Transportation confirmed that the Matanzas Pass Bridge was hit by the same shrimp boat that crashed into it on Monday.
A report on Tuesday described the boat's outrigger making contact with the bridge after which the shrimp boat then backed away.
FDOT says that a marine unit reported no visible damage to the bridge, and the bridge remains open.
The department has dispatched a bridge inspection team to assess the bridge and document any damage.
UPDATE 3:22 P.M.:
All lanes are back open on the Matanzas Pass Bridge.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A shrimp boat crashed into the Matanzas Pass Bridge Monday morning, leading to a complete shutdown of the bridge for several hours.
The incident occurred when the Captain Jack shrimping boat’s outrigger became lodged underneath the bridge.
Watch FOX 4's Anvar Ruziev's full coverage here:
Deputies say there is no major damage, and no injuries. The Florida Department of Transportation said the closure was necessary to allow inspectors and the Coast Guard to inspect the bridge following the crash.
Deputies rerouted traffic and marine activity.
"This incident will cause delays and we appreciate the public’s patience as we work to ensure safety in the area," FDOT said.
David Richardson, captain of Sundance Sailing, witnessed the crash from the dock. "Oops as we say in captain land," Richardson commented. "There were a couple of thumps, bangs, and a crash with broken metal."
Some neighbors found the collision nostalgic, "It reminds me of the old days when we used to have a swing bridge that got stuck open all the time," said Fort Myers Beach resident Sam Laurie. "But it's new for a shrimp boat to run into it."
Shrimp boat crew members familiar with navigating the bridge explained how the crash could have happened. Tyler Adams, a shrimper, shared that when passing under the bridge, they usually lower the outriggers using winches to fit beneath the structure.
"Sometimes we don't get it all the way down and hit the outrigger on the bridge," Adams said.
The boat’s owner, Chris Gala, provided further insight, explaining that the length of the boat’s outriggers was 65 feet, the same as the maximum clearance height of the Matanzas Pass Bridge. While the crew was instructed to wait for a support boat to assist them, they decided to attempt the crossing without help, a decision that Gala believes may have led to the accident.
The crew plans to attempt another crossing under the bridge Monday evening, this time waiting until low tide.
