OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The Osceola County Fire Rescue got 11 people safely back to land after an airboat crashed into a sandbar at the St. Cloud canal near Neptune Road in Kissimmee Friday afternoon.

The boat is operated by Marsh Landing Adventures Orlando Airboat Tours. The boat struck a sandbar, something that was possible because of the drier conditions in the area. 

"Instead of the boat actually moving with it, it was just like putting his breaks on it," owner Jim Passmore said. "I wish it hadn’t, you know, because you never want something to have an incident, but we don’t feel that this was a problem other than just not having the water we need out here."

Officials with OSCFR said eight people were transported to the hospital with injuries.

“With any incidents, minutes matter," OSCFR PIO Joshua Holder said. "It’s important that we are able to get here, especially because we don’t always know the conditions of the patients until we arrive on scene."

Fire Rescue officials said they are working with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office to determine the cause of the crash.

The airboat company plans to resume tours Saturday.