Autopsy scheduled for woman who died after casino boat fire

Author: AP
Published:
In this photo provided by Pasco County flames engulf a boat Sunday Jan. 14, 2018, in the Tampa Bay area. The boat ferrying patrons to a casino ship off the Florida Gulf Coast caught fire near shore Sunday afternoon, and dozens of passengers and crew safely made it to land with some jumping overboard to escape, authorities said. (Pasco County Fire Rescue via AP)

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine what caused the death of a 42-year-old woman who died hours after a casino shuttle boat caught fire in Florida.

The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Carrie Dempsey died Sunday night while being treated at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. An autopsy will be performed Tuesday.

About 50 passengers jumped into the chilly waters off Port Richey Sunday afternoon when the Island Lady caught fire on its way to a Tropical Breeze casino boat in the Gulf of Mexico, where gambling is legal.

Spokeswoman Beth Fifer says the company doesn’t know what caused the fire that also injured 14 other passengers.

Hospital spokesman Kurt Conover says Dempsey went home after the fire, but arrived at the emergency room about 10 p.m. Sunday.

MORE: Woman dies after fire on casino boat off Florida’s coast

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.