ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A man was killed Thursday when his boat crashed into a small island near Bay Pines Bridge and War Veterans Park in Pinellas County .

Officials said he was the only person on board and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Why you should care:

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest times of the year on Tampa Bay waterways, with heavy boat traffic, tourists and often alcohol. Experts warn that these factors create dangerous conditions.

Florida maritime attorney Brandon Volk said many boaters treat vessels like toys rather than vehicles, and accidents spike during holiday weekends. BUI arrests, he said, are common and account for nearly 20% of boating crashes.

What they're

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