Two dead after boat crash on Intracoastal

They were friends cruising to a bar on the Intracoastal Waterway, one driving a smaller boat running at idle speed, the other piloting a bigger catamaran coming up behind him at a breakneck pace.

About 10:30 p.m. Saturday, the larger boat plowed into the other in Fort Lauderdale, leaving four people hurt, two critically, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Both of those people were dead Monday. They included the driver of the 22-foot Twin Vee center console, Andre Neves, 37, of Deerfield Beach.

Also killed in the crash was Juliana Da Costa Maria, 29, of Boca Raton, a passenger in that boat.

The 31-foot catamaran, driven by Max Irvine, 36, rode up over the back of the Twin Vee, which may have slowed as it approached Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill, 3115 NE 32nd Ave., investigators said. “The catamaran straddled the other boat,” said Timothy Heiser, Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue deputy chief.

James Frank of Lighthouse Point was in a third boat, trailing his friends Neves and Irvine, who room together in Deerfield Beach.

Frank said he and a friend were in his boat, heading north on the Intracoastal, when he spotted Neves traveling south. They talked briefly on the phone and agreed to meet at Bokampers, he said.

As he turned his boat around, Frank said he saw Irvine arrive from the north. He witnessed the crash from about 150 feet away, he said.

“Andre was at idle speed, and Max was doing 40 to 50 mph. He was hauling ass,” said Frank, 22. “He came up from behind, cut from right to left and took out the [Twin Vee].”

Frank said he immediately called 911 and watched as Irvine and bystanders helped tie up both vessels at Bokampers’ dock.

“I was in awe. Very shocking,” Frank said.

Broward Medical Examiner Craig Mallak confirmed the deaths Monday night.

Two other passengers on the Twin Vee, William and Evelyn Rountree of Boca Raton, sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.

Irvine and his passenger, Amanda Macke, 34, of Fort Lauderdale, were not hurt in the crash.

Reached by telephone Monday, Irvine said, “Sorry. I have no comment.”

Neves was pronounced dead Monday afternoon after doctors removed him from life support, according to Jair Almeida, one of several family members and friends who had kept a vigil at his bedside. He was to be an organ donor.

“Everybody’s in shock,” Almeida said.

In a message posted Monday afternoon on a Godfundme page — a webpage set up to raise money for Neves’ medical expenses — his wife, Marcia Neves, wrote: “This is truly a hard time and he will always be missed. He is the father of my child and the real love of my life.”

Neves, a native of Brazil, was an employee of Outboard Specialties Inc., a boat dealer in Pompano Beach.

“Any and all prayers will be appreciated,” the company said in a message posted on the internet Monday morning. A Gofundme page has also be set up to help with Neves’ medical expenses.

“Andre is the most beautiful person, father of a little boy,” said Michele Frank, a family friend and James Frank’s mother. “My son boated with him nearly every weekend. He is such a good guy.”

Neves’ survivors include his wife, Marcia, and their son Logan, Almeida said.