A Merritt Island man has been sentenced to jail for recklessly crashing his speedboat, styled after a Corvette, into another boat during the 2024 Christmas Boat Parade on Sykes Creek.
CAMERON T. MICHAELS, 26, was cited Dec. 7 and charged by the State Attorney’s Office with reckless operation of a vessel and inflicting injury by culpable negligence, both first-degree misdemeanors. At a hearing Aug. 13, Michaels changed his not-guilty plea to no-contest to avoid trial.
In the sentencing hearing that followed, Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Kalra called for jail time and played a parade spectator’s mobile-phone video of the crash, which would have been evidence at trial. The video showed Michaels revving his boat’s engine and swerving to show off for the crowd – then crashing through another parade boat and sending its passengers flying.
In victim-impact statements read in court, three victims of the crash said they suffered lasting injuries that caused them to lose work, experiences with family, and even their love of recreation.
“This injury didn’t just hurt my back – it stole my way of life,” Tanner Langston said. “I was a fun-loving, adventurous free spirit … Now I can’t lift, twist or bend without pain. I’ve missed precious moments with my family and friends because of how difficult the simplest of tasks can be.”
Michaels apologized to the victims. He told Brevard County Judge Kelly Ingram he had voluntarily completed a safe-boater course and donated money to the Save The Manatees Club.
Ingram sentenced Michaels to:
- 60 days in jail for inflicting injury by culpable negligence. He also must pay restitution to the crash victims.
- One year probation, to follow the jail sentence, for reckless operation of a vessel. Michaels may not operate a boat during probation.
See video, below: