A boat struck the Buckman Bridge on Thursday morning, authorities said.
WJCT News partner News4Jax reports the Coast Guard said that Jacksonville police were called just before 8 a.m. because a 30-foot commercial fishing boat was going in circles in the St. Johns River near the bridge.
It hit one of the pillars of the bridge, and by the time Jacksonville Fire and Rescue personnel found it by the bridge, no one was aboard.
Florida wildlife officials, JSO, JFRD and Coast Guard personnel started a search and rescue effort.
News4Jax is providing updates on this developing story.
#BreakingNews at 7:57 a.m. @JSOPIO received a report of a 30-foot fishing vessel unmanned and running in circles near the southside of the Buckman Bridge by @NASJax_. @USCG Station Mayport arrived on scene at 9:07 a.m. and is currently searching the area. #D7 #USCG #Responsive pic.twitter.com/i4LbPy5w6M
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) February 4, 2021
NEW VIDEO: A multi-agency search is on after a boat hit one of the pillars of the Buckman Bridge this morning. By the time Jacksonville Fire and Rescue personnel found it, no one was aboard. https://t.co/EIU7wwmllJ pic.twitter.com/2dex4mbvdI
— News4JAX (@wjxt4) February 4, 2021
