The operator of the boat that struck and killed a 15-year-old girl in Biscayne Bay has been identified, officials said.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 78-year-old Carlos Alonso of Coral Gables was operating the boat at the time of the incident.
Authorities said two females, including 15-year-old Ella Adler, had both fallen in the water in the area west of Washta Point in Biscayne Bay. Adler had been wakeboarding at the time.
While Adler was in the water, officials said Alonso’s boat struck her, causing fatal injuries.
The second female, still in the water, was not near Adler.
Investigators said Alonso did not stop and left the area.
FWC officials confiscated the boat on Tuesday after identifying it as a “vessel of interest”.
Authorities took the boat to the U.S. Coast Guard base in Miami Beach. From there, it was taken to another undisclosed location to be closely examined.
So far, no charges or arrests have been made in this case. Alonso is cooperating with the investigation, FWC says.
The tragedy caught the attention of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who visited the family on Tuesday. Ella is the granddaughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Michael Alder.
Following the confiscation of the vessel and the visit from the First Lady, Ella’s family released a statement expressing their gratitude for the hard work of law enforcement and saying:
We are honored that the First Lady paid a shiva call to our family during this time of immense pain. We are touched by their support and love and we are proud to call the President and First Lady our friends for over 40 years.
The Adler Family
On Wednesday, Ella’s school, Ransom Everglades, posted a picture of classmates painting the cannon with her name, purple hearts, and ballerinas. In the caption, the school wrote “Friends and classmates of Ella Adler Class of 2027. Love her and miss her deeply.”
FWC investigators urge anyone with information or video footage related to the incident to contact the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).
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