Miami Tugboat Captain Charged Over Deaths Of Three Girls In Sailboat Crash Was Distracted By Cellphone, Prosecutors Say

A Miami tugboat skipper who was charged complete nan decease of 3 girls pursuing a sailboat clang was distracted by his cellphone astatine nan clip of nan tragedy, prosecutors person said.

Yusiel Lopez Insua, 46, of Miami, was driving a tugboat pushing a barge loaded pinch building debris crossed Biscayne Bay connected nan greeting of July 28 past year.

Prosecutors pinch nan United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida allege that Insua was connected his cellphone astatine nan time, not paying attention, and that his guardant position was obstructed by a deckhouse and crane.

While location was different personification connected board, they were not assigned arsenic a lookout and were astatine nan backmost of nan vessel astatine nan clip of nan collision, according to tribunal documents.

A sailboat carrying 1 19-year-old female sailing campy counsellor and 5 children, betwixt nan ages of 7 and 13, mislaid upwind and stalled successful nan way of nan tugboat and barge.

The counsellor tried to alert nan tugboat but owed to nan obstructed visibility and deficiency of a lookout, Insua did not spot nan stalled sailboat earlier nan barge struck it, it is alleged.

Following nan collision nan counsellor and 2 of nan children escaped aft being dragged nether nan barge. The 3 others, each girls, were trapped successful nan wreckage and drowned according to nan Miami Yacht Club.

The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office identified them arsenic Mila Yankelevich, 7, and Erin Ko, 13. Several days later nan family of Arielle Buchman announced that she excessively had died pursuing nan incident, The New York Times reported.

“Our hearts are pinch nan families of nan children who mislaid their lives successful this tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for nan Southern District of Florida.

“This accusation alleges a preventable nonaccomplishment of life connected our waterways, including nan nonaccomplishment to travel basal maritime information rules and cellphone usage during transit astatine aliases adjacent nan clip of nan collision. We will coming nan grounds successful tribunal pinch attraction and professionalism.

“As successful each case, nan suspect is presumed guiltless unless and until proven blameworthy beyond a reasonable doubt.”

An investigation by nan prosecutors agency included a reappraisal of Insua’s cellphone, which revealed “internet activity during transit, including astatine aliases adjacent nan clip of nan collision.”

He has been charged pinch seaman’s manslaughter and if convicted, he faces up to 10 years successful national prison.

The New York Times reports that nan tugboat is owned by Waterfront Construction, a Miami firm, according to nan company’s lawyer.

The Independent has reached retired to nan institution for remark connected nan incident. The Independent has attempted to find accusation for Insua’s ineligible practice for comment.