Jumping sturgeon breaks girl's leg

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 26, 2007

CHIEFLAND - A 6-year-old girl's leg was broken when she was struck by a sturgeon while riding on a boat in the Suwannee River, wildlife officials said.

Taylor Lane Owen of Old Town was a passenger in the 20-foot vessel along with her parents and other family members Sunday. The boat was just north of the Yellow Jacket Boat Ramp, about 9 miles west of Chiefland, when a 3-foot sturgeon jumped out of the river.

Taylor's aunt also was bruised and cut.

"This is the third confirmed sturgeon strike on 2007. Four people have been injured. That's four too many, " said Maj. Bruce Hamlin, regional commander for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's North Central Region, based in Lake City.

Hamlin said the commission is trying to increase awareness of the attacks and warning people to go slowly while boating on the Suwannee. Ten people were similarly injured in 2006, Hamilton said.

[Last modified June 25, 2007, 22:54:02]