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The captain of a tugboat involved in a tragic collision that occurred in Biscayne Bay, Miami, which resulted in the deaths of three minors last year, has now been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter by U.S. federal authorities.
According to a report from the Department of Justice this Tuesday in a statement, the defendant -identified as Yusiel López Insúa, 46 years old and a resident of Miami- was operating a vessel with reduced visibility and without an appropriate lookout, which led to the fatal accident that occurred on July 28, 2025.
The tragedy occurred when the tugboat he was piloting was pushing a barge loaded with construction debris.
According to the court records, the visibility towards the bow was obstructed by a deckhouse and a crane, while “there was no one on board acting as a lookout”, a basic maritime safety function.
At that moment, a children's sailing camp was taking place nearby.
A sailboat carrying a 19-year-old instructor and five girls became stranded without wind in the path of the barge.
“Due to obstructed visibility and the absence of a lookout, Insua did not see the damaged sailboat before the barge struck it,” states the official statement.
The impact was devastating.
The instructor and two of the minors managed to survive after being dragged under the boat, but three other girls were trapped among the wreckage and drowned.
The victims were identified as Mila Yankelevich, 7 years old; Arielle Buchman, 10; and Erin Ko, 13, who were participating in the final week of a summer camp organized by the Miami Yacht Club.
One of the most serious issues highlighted by the investigation is the use of the mobile phone by the captain during navigation.
A forensic analysis revealed "internet activity during the journey, even at the time of the collision or in its vicinity."
Federal prosecutor Jason A. Reding Quiñones emphasized the seriousness of the events and the preventable nature of the tragedy.
"Our hearts are with the families of the children who lost their lives in this tragedy. This information suggests a loss of lives that could have been avoided in our waterways, including a failure to adhere to basic maritime safety regulations and the use of cell phones during transit at the time of the collision or in its vicinity."
The official added that the authorities will present the evidence "carefully and professionally," and reminded that "the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," stated Reding Quiñones in the announcement.
López Insúa -whose nationality has not been disclosed- faces a charge of involuntary maritime manslaughter and, if found guilty, could be sentenced to up to 10 years in federal prison.
For its part, the defense of the accused stated in a statement that their client "intends to take responsibility for his actions and to resolve the case in a manner that avoids causing families any additional and unnecessary pain or distress."
The case is still under investigation by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Coast Guard in Miami, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, civil actions have also been initiated.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of one of the surviving girls points to possible negligence on the part of the company that owns the barge and the organizations affiliated with the sailing camp, claiming that “adequate measures” were not taken to prevent the collision.
The authorities also highlighted the swift response of the Miami-Dade County rescue teams, as well as the police departments of Miami and Miami Beach, whose efforts allowed for the rescue of some of the occupants of the sailboat amidst a scene marked by chaos and desperation.
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