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LAKE CITY, Florida, United States — 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 Jaylon Rippy died after being struck Thursday night. Her mother and 9-year-old brother were also injured and taken to a Gainesville hospital. Their condition was not known.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said this is the first fatality recorded from a sturgeon strike on the Suwannee River. Four people have been injured by jumping sturgeon this year.
The fish are known for leaping more than 7 feet (2.13 meters) above the water. They can grow up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) long and weigh up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) and can cause serious injuries.