Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a Miami tugboat operator following a fatal waterway collision that claimed the lives of three young girls participating in a sailing program.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced Tuesday that 46-year-old Yusiel Lopez Insua of Miami has been charged with seaman’s manslaughter stemming from the July incident in Biscayne Bay.
According to federal authorities, Insua was operating a tugboat that was pushing a barge loaded with construction materials when his view became blocked. Officials say no lookout person was posted as the vessel traveled through the waterway that separates Miami from Miami Beach.
The tragic collision occurred when a sailboat carrying a 19-year-old counselor and five children between ages 7 and 13 became disabled in the path of the approaching barge. Prosecutors say Insua failed to spot the stalled vessel before impact.
Three people – the counselor and two campers – were pulled beneath the barge during the crash but managed to break free. However, the remaining three children became caught in the wreckage and lost their lives to drowning.
“Our hearts are with the families of the children who lost their lives in this tragedy,” stated Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “This information alleges a preventable loss of life on our waterways, including the failure to follow basic maritime safety rules and cellphone use during transit at or near the time of the collision.”
Digital forensics revealed that Insua had accessed the internet on his mobile device around the time of the deadly crash, according to investigators.
If found guilty, Insua could receive a sentence of up to a decade in federal prison.
Neither the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office nor federal prosecutors immediately responded to requests for information regarding Insua’s legal representation.
Emergency responders transported four children to medical facilities following the accident. A 7-year-old and 13-year-old were declared deceased upon arrival, while a 10-year-old who had been fighting for life in critical condition passed away several days later.
The sailing vessel became submerged under the barge in Biscayne Bay, an area dotted with small islands including Star Island, known for its luxury waterfront properties.
According to the Miami Yacht Club, the children were in their final week of summer camp when the tragedy occurred.
Coast Guard data shows that while recreational boating fatalities exceeded 550 nationwide in 2024, only 43 deaths resulted from vessel-to-vessel collisions.
