Girl Killed By Jumping Sturgeon – Could This Happen on The Columbia River?

I spotted a crazy and very sad story over the weekend where a 5 year old was killed by a huge sturgeon that jumped in her boat in the Suwannee River in Florida...

According to Channel 7 WSPA news:

A 5-year-old Florida girl riding in a boat has died after a sturgeon leaped from the Suwannee River and struck her.

Wildlife officials said the young girl, Jaylon Rippy, died after being struck Thursday night.

Her mother and 9-year-old brother were also injured and taken to a Gainesville hospital. Both of them will need facial surgery, WTSP-TV reported.

 

Just 1 month ago, a Florida teenager enjoying a family boat ride was knocked unconscious when a sturgeon leapt out of the water and struck her.

Heavyn Nash, 14, was boating along the Suwanee River south of Manatee Springs with her mother and grandfather when the fish, 4 to 6 feet long, jumped into the boat, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Check out this public service announcement:

Published on Apr 24, 2014

They're baaaaaaaaaaack!
Gulf sturgeon make their annual migration back into the Suwannee River every spring in April and into May. Why the warning? These fish can grow to 8 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds! In the past, people have been injured in accidental collisions with these large fish. These collisions aren't attacks. The fish are simply doing what they have been doing for millions of years... jumping. Going slow helps reduce the risk of impact and give boaters more reaction time if a jumping sturgeon is encountered. Boaters are encouraged to wear their life jackets at all times while on the water.