MIAMI (AP) — Authorities in Florida have confirmed four people were killed in a boat collision near Miami’s Dinner Key Marina last night.

The boaters are believed to have been out celebrating the Fourth of July holiday when the crash happened. The Coast Guard says rescuers were alerted by one of the boaters who said he’d been hit by another vessel and that his 36-foot pleasure craft was taking on water.

Eight people were taken to shore and transported to local hospitals. Two later died.

Commercial salvage crews found the second vessel believed involved in the crash with two unconscious females on board.

Searchers located two more bodies this morning.

A spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the crash happened about the time boaters would have been returning to the marina after the July Fourth fireworks display.

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