A FAMILY has been left devastated after a young mom was killed in front of her children in a horrifying boat crash.
Brittney Sherman, 27, was flung into a bayou during the tragic accident, which left her four-year-old son fighting for his life.
Brittney, a mother of four, was traveling with her spouse and kids on Sunday when a tragic accident occurred in Saraland, Alabama, close to Mobile.
The boat carrying the Sherman family crashed into another boat in Bayou Sara just before 6 pm.
The impact flung Brittney overboard into the muddy waters.
After a night of searching by divers and rescue teams, her body was recovered about 100 yards from where she fell into the water on Monday morning.
Brittney’s husband, Cody, and young son, Carson, were both seriously injured in the collision and were rushed to the hospital.
Carson is in critical condition as of Wednesday evening.
It’s unknown how many people were on the boats at the time of the crash and how many children were on board.
Boat operators Robert Lofton, 19, and Jerry Hocutt Jr., 52, were uninjured in the crash.
Lofton was identified as the man steering the boat carrying the Sherman family, according to Fox affiliate WALA.
No charges have been filed in the accident.
It’s unclear what caused the crash. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency declined to provide further information to The U.S. Sun.
Cody has been left to raise the family’s four children alone, including their baby girl, who was just born in January.
He paid tribute to Brittney, his high school sweetheart, in a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
ALEA’s statement
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency shared the following statement about the accident with The U.S. Sun:
A double vessel collision happened around 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, resulting in the death of a woman from Wilmer and injuring two others. At the age of 27, Brittney Sherman suffered fatal injuries when the 20-foot Avid Center Console boat she was in collided with a 26-foot Regulator Center Console boat driven by 52-year-old Jerry Hocutt Jr. from Wilmer, who was unharmed in the incident. Brittney Sherman was initially tossed into the water on Bayou Sara near Saraland in Mobile County.
The following day, on Monday, June 16, at approximately 10:50 a.m., the body of Brittney Sherman was found about 100 yards from where she had entered the water on Bayou Sara.
Cody Sherman, 30, of Wilmer, who was also a passenger onboard the 20 ft Avid Center Console vessel, was transported to USA Health University Hospital in Mobile for medical treatment. A 4-year-old child, who was also onboard the 20 ft Avid Center Console, was injured and transported to a local area hospital for medical treatment. The operator of the 20 ft Avid Center Console was Robert T. Lofton, 19, of Lucedale, Miss., was uninjured as a result of the collision.
The following agencies responded to the scene, as well as assisted with the search and recovery efforts: Saraland Fire Department, Mobile Fire Department, Mobile Police Department, Mobile County Sheriff’s Flotilla, Satsuma Fire Department, Satsuma Police Department, Daphne Search and Rescue, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Special Agents assigned to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), along with ALEA Marine Patrol Troopers. Nothing further is available as ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division continues to investigate.
“My baby and our baby,” he wrote, sharing a picture of the late mom and their daughter.
“Brittney I love you more than anything in this world. I promise to take care of these babies for you sweetheart!
“I know that you are up there watching over us. Please show me how to do this. I’m not sure how I’m gonna make it and I’m gonna do my best to make you proud. I love you until we meet again!!”
On Wednesday, Cody shared an update on Carson’s recovery as he remains in critical condition at the hospital.
“This will forever be the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with,” the young dad shared on Facebook.
“I just want to tell everyone thank you for the prayers that have been sent. The kids and I have received a lot of love but not the love that we are missing,” he said.
“Carson is a strong fighter. He beat me up today. They removed the ventilator today and he is doing good.”
The dad said Carson has a “long road ahead” to recovery but that he’s a fighter.
A GoFundMe for the Sherman family has raised over $72,000 as of Thursday morning.
