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January 2, 2003
KEY WEST -- A sponge fisherman died after his boat collided with a patrol boat operated by a state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.
Jose Herrera, 59, of Hialeah was brought to shore by the officer, Jason Reiff, but could not be revived, said Monroe County sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin.
Herrera was operating a 12-foot skiff near Duck Key when the crash occurred Monday about 7:30 p.m., officials said. Reiff told investigators that Herrera's boat did not have any lights.
Reiff, 25, was placed on routine administrative leave, pending an investigation of the incident, wildlife commission Capt. Skip Russo said.