The Cuban-born captain Yusiel López Insúa will learn his sentence this Tuesday, October 13, in Miami for the maritime accident that resulted in the death of three girls during a summer camp in 2025.
López Insúa pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter at sea, a federal offense that carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison. However, the prosecution and the defense reached an agreement, supported by the victims' families, which recommends a significantly lesser sentence.
According to NBC Miami, the prosecution and the defense have recommended a sentence of one year and one day in prison, followed by six months of house arrest. CBS Miami described the proposal as one year in jail and six months of supervised release. The final decision rests with the federal judge, who is not obligated to accept the parties' recommendation.
The accident occurred on July 28, 2025, in Biscayne Bay, when the tugboat driven by López Insúa was pushing a barge loaded with construction materials and collided with a small sailboat carrying five girls and an instructor.
The victims were Mila Yankelevich, seven years old; Arielle Buchman, ten; and Erin Ko Han, thirteen. The three were trapped under the boat and drowned. The other two minors and the instructor managed to survive.
The federal investigation revealed serious violations of maritime safety regulations. The captain's visibility was obstructed by structures of the barge, including a crane, and he had not assigned any crew member to monitor the presence of other vessels.
Additionally, a forensic analysis of his cell phone detected internet activity during browsing, even close to the time of the collision.
By pleading guilty on July 21, López Insúa avoided a trial. His lawyer, Walter Reynoso, stated at that time that his client was deeply remorseful and did not want to subject the families to reliving the tragedy during a judicial process.
The United States Department of Justice described the accident as an avoidable tragedy, resulting from the failure to adhere to basic safety measures.
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