Brandon Simpson’s bedroom in his New Hampshire home was decorated with photos of yachts and beaches.
From a young age he wanted to leave the cold for the sun and sand. He recently survived his dream. He almost made plans, packed up the car and headed south in August 2021 with his lifelong friend and Simpson’s rescue dog Kona. Within a few years he built a life in Fort Lauderdale, loved at night, and worked at a restaurant he spent time at the beach.
Simpson went out to celebrate his 28th birthday and headed home shortly after 2:28am on April 28th. He accidentally drove onto the boat ramp near the Avenue of Artsbridge at the Cooley Landing Marina and New River. His younger brother, Tyler Simpson, said he spoke to his younger brother on the phone about 10 minutes before crashing. He seemed to be his normal self.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Divers rescued Simpson from the sinking car. He was declared dead at Broward Health Medical Center, police and the Fire and Rescue Department said.
His car was swept past the bridge by a strong current and later recovered. His family believes the area of boat ramps near the bridge requires more safety measures than is currently in place to prevent similar accidents.
“It’s right next to the bridge. He seemed to think it was a ramp to get back to the highway, and he wasn’t from around the area,” his mother, Erica Simpson, said.
A decade ago, Wilton Manor resident Lisa Hayden Gordon also died in a similar accident, the Sun Sentinel reported. One friend of Hayden Gordon told the city’s Marine Advisory Committee at the time that he was shocked at how easy it was to drive Southwest Seven Avenue to a boat ramp from its sharp bend. The tragedy led to city officials and then vowed to make the area safer.
After his death in 2015, the city installed rumble strips, reflectors, lighting and signs that read “Warning Boat Ramp,” city spokesman Christine Portala told the Sun Sentinel.
The Simpson family still feels there is no adequate protection without some sort of physical barrier or gate to block lamps.
“It would have saved his life,” his mother said.
Officers who work with the family told them that Simpson wasn’t the only one who made the mistake, they said.
Fort Lauderdale Police Sergeant said there were “several incidents” of the crash when Cooley landed in the 400 block of Southwest Seventh Avenue. David Soika, but he was unable to provide the exact number. No statistics had been received regarding the number of crashes in the area as of Friday, as of Friday, as of the timetable.
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At least four people, including Hayden Gordon, have crashed similarly on Cooley landings over the past 20 years, according to a report by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
In August 2014, the SUV driver entered New River around 4:30am, believing the ramp was the Interstate 95 entrance. Two women were rescued.
In September 2005, the body of the taxi driver was recovered inside the taxi from New River after plunging into the water from Cooley’s landing. There were no signs of trauma or foul play.
In 2001, Oakland Park resident Heather Munroe died in a submerged van driven into the river around 2am after leaving the now-closed Maguire Hill 16.
Commissioner Steve Glassman, who is in the district, including the Cooley Landing Marina district, told the Sun Sentinel that he had not heard safety concerns about boat ramps there in the seven years he became an elected official.
Simpson’s family described him as a laidback yet stubborn and philosophical man. He worked at J. Alexander’s restaurant. This is a job I loved because of the opportunity to meet new people sociable.
As his oldest brother, Simpson was not only the older brother of 26-year-old Lauren Simpson and 24-year-old Tyler Simpson, but he also equally protected those he cared for, his family said. He was especially protecting his sister.
“He only had a year and a half so when people started to come to her, ‘No, that’s my Lauren,'” his mother recalled Simpson’s saying.
“It continued throughout Lauren’s life,” his father said.
Simpson was the type who “power-through” any struggle and “lying on the beach,” his brother said.
“He didn’t emphasize things to the superhuman level,” he said. “He was the loosest man. No matter what’s going on, attack it with a smile on his face.”
His brother, saddened by his death, said that Simpson has lived bravely since childhood to create real dreams.
“I am truly proud that he has come here.
This report uses information from the South Florida Sun Sentinel Archives.
