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WPB law firm seeking witnesses in boating accident

Posted at 6:04 PM, Jun 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-29 18:04:14-04

Life changed in an instant after a boating accident three months ago for Daniel Pena, a father of two.

Now a West Palm Beach law firm is asking for witnesses to come forward.

Meanwhile, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating what happened.
               
Pena’s best memories are spending time with his wife and two young sons. The 33-year-old dad's life is much different now.

“I get tired and i don't have the strength to be outside,” said Pena, of Lake Worth.

Daniel is not only disfigured now, he also copes with a brain injury. Both because of a boat accident.

“It's very, very painful,” said Daniel, from a conference room at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA, a law firm in West Palm Beach.

One minute Daniel was cruising the Intracoastal Waterway one mile south of the Hypoluxo Bridge on March 5 around 4:30 p.m. The next, his fishing boat's propeller hit him in the face and threw him overboard.

“Now me and my family are faced with a lot of hurdles,” explained Daniel.

His attorneys believe a loose hydraulic steering tube caused the accident.

“Suddenly without warning the vessel experienced a complete loss of steering ability,” said attorney Jack Hill.

So, they came forward today in hopes of finding witnesses. Someone who saw something.

“If you have any information about what happened to Daniel Pena on that day please call us,” said Adam Hecht, with the law firm.

Daniel's attorneys are suing the boat manufacturer, Tracker Marine. Meanwhile, Daniel struggles to adjust to being a dad with new limitations.

“Not being able to run around with my kids, to play outside like we would normally,” said Daniel.

If you did see something, contact Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA at 561-686-6300 or 1-800-780-8607.