Coast Guard recommends manslaughter in Miami Beach sailboat crash that killed 3 girls

Milena Malaver, Miami Herald on Oct 30, 2025

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MIAMI — The Coast Guard has recommended manslaughter charges against the operators of the barge and tugboat that crashed into a Miami Yacht Club sailboat, killing three young girl campers in July, the federal agency announced Thursday.

Three girls were killed in the July 28 crash off Hibiscus Island in Miami Beach when an “uninspected” barge, being pushed by a tugboat called Wood Chuck, ran over the 17-foot sailboat that carried five summer campers and a counselor from the yacht club, according to the Coast Guard. Two other girls were seriously injured.

“After conducting a thorough marine casualty investigation, we’ve referred this case to Department of Justice for criminal investigation to ensure full accountability and help deter similar cases in the future,” said Coast Guard Sector Miami Commander Capt. Frank J. Florio in a statement.

Judd Rosen, an attorney representing one of the girls who was on the sailboat and seriously injured, praised the Coast Guard’s decision.

“This is a sign that the wheels of justice are moving in the right direction,” Rosen told the Miami Herald

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