Biscayne Bay Horror: Sailboat Carrying Children Hit by Barge, Two Dead
Five children and a counselor from the Miami Yacht Club were aboard the sailboat when it was struck by a barge, leaving two girls dead and two others in critical condition.
A catastrophic collision in Biscayne Bay near Hibiscus Island off Miami Beach has left two girls, ages 7 and 13, dead and two other children critically injured after a barge struck a sailboat carrying five young campers and a counselor from the Miami Yacht Club’s summer camp. The Monday morning incident, occurring around 11:15 a.m., prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to describe the tragedy as “absolutely devastating,” increasing calls for stricter boating safety measures in the busy waterway.
The sailboat, part of the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation’s program, sank after being hit by a large iron platform barge equipped with cranes. The six occupants, five children aged 7 to 13 and a 19-year-old counselor, were thrown into the water. Despite rapid response from the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the 7-year-old and 13-year-old girls died at Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. An 8-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl remain in critical condition, while a 12-year-old girl and the counselor survived. The victims’ identities have not been released.
Video footage showed the barge striking the 17-foot sailboat, with some suggesting the smaller vessel misjudged the barge’s trajectory.
The Coast Guard and FWC are investigating why the sailboat crossed the barge’s path.
“It’s absolutely devastating ... Incidents like this leave a lasting impact on our maritime community” said Capt. Frank Florio of Coast Guard Sector Miami, emphasizing a thorough investigation to determine the cause and prevent future tragedies. The Miami Yacht Club, a nearly century-old institution known for teaching kids to sail, expressed devastation. “The entire MYC family is devastated by this terrible tragedy,” said commodore Emily Copeland, noting the club’s cooperation with authorities. Katie Flood-Reiss, a former MYC camper and counselor, wept as she reflected on the club’s safety-focused culture. “We were so careful with our kids,” she said, calling the incident a blow to a program that fosters independence through sailing
This tragedy adds to Biscayne Bay’s grim record of boating accidents. In May 2024, a 15-year-old was killed in a hit-and-run while wakeboarding, with the operator facing misdemeanor charges. A September 2022 crash involving a real estate developer killed a 17-year-old and injured another teen, with vessel homicide charges pending due to alcohol found on board. Additional 2023 fatalities further highlight the bay’s dangers.
As parents retrieved their children from the Miami Yacht Club Monday afternoon, the atmosphere was heavy with grief, with many questioning how to ensure safe access to Biscayne Bay moving forward. The FWC has urged anyone with information to contact their hotline at 888-404-3922.
Sources: ABC News, New York Post, Travel and Tour World, WPLG Local 10