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Barge Captain Charged With Maritime Manslaughter in Biscayne Bay Collision That Killed Three Girls

The filing shifts the case toward trial under federal rules for deaths on navigable waters.

Overview

  • Federal prosecutors in South Florida filed a maritime involuntary manslaughter charge against captain Yusiel López Insua over the Biscayne Bay collision.
  • Prosecutors say a deckhouse and crane blocked his forward view and no lookout was assigned, so he did not see a youth-camp sailboat that had lost wind and stalled.
  • A forensic review found internet activity on the captain’s phone during the voyage near the time of the impact, according to the Justice Department.
  • Three children — Mila Yankelevich, Erin Victoria Ko Han and Arielle Mazi Buchman — died after the barge struck the sailboat near Miami Beach.
  • The offense carries up to 10 years in federal prison as Coast Guard investigators, CGIS and Florida wildlife officers continue the probe, and families pursue separate civil lawsuits.