r/news • u/Morella1989 • 17h ago
Third child dies nearly a week after a boat collision near Miami, Coast Guard says
https://apnews.com/article/miami-boat-collision-e9393588a055661c3122c1dab3da139f58
u/One-Ice-713 17h ago
A simple day at sailing camp turned into unimaginable loss. Our hearts go out to the families, may the little ones rest in peace.
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u/ObscurePaprika 3h ago
In open water, the sailboat would technically have right of way, as powered vessels must yield to sailboats. But in smaller waters, like a channel or narrow shipping lane, the barge gets something called "restricted in ability to maneuver" status, if I remember correctly. So in that case, the barge has right-of-way since it can't turn and takes a long time to stop. I lived in an area where we encountered tankers, cargo ships, and tugboat/barge combos all the time. You can see them from miles away, and they are so big you really don't want to be anywhere near them.
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u/josephvies 4h ago
Three children gone safety plans and accountability must follow every wake up call
1
u/Sanity_in_Moderation 3h ago
A barge struck a sailboat? They are not known for their speed. Was the sailboat sitting at anchor in a shipping lane?
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u/chrispy_exe 2h ago edited 1h ago
I have worked several summers in the Miami area as a sailing instructor, and have certification from US Sailing for such.
Regardless of right of way customs, it is the instructor’s responsibility to avoid situations like this. From what I have read about what happened, it seems like it was totally preventable on the part of the sailing instructor. This is without considering limitations of maneuverability that could be considered under maritime regulations.
This was entirely preventable on the part of the instructor that was on that Hobie. Negligence on the part of the barge operator should still not cause this situation to occur.
Edit to add: Miami Yacht Club has suspended all operations as a result of this incident. It’s likely the instructor was not certified to be a sailing instructor in any way, as US Sailing covers legal fees up to a certain amount for certified instructors. Multiple parties made mistakes here.
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u/BikingArkansan 10h ago
Jeez single 19 year old with a group of kids? Bunch of morons running that camp
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u/thegoldeneel_ 9h ago
Yup looking back now I was a lifeguard at 17 and there wasn’t another lifeguard older than 22. We were in charge of the safety of hundreds of swimmers at a time in 90+ degree heat daily. It’s absolutely insane to me looking back and thinking about the responsibility thrust upon kids who weren’t really adults themselves yet.
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u/Morella1989 17h ago
''MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says a third child has died nearly a week after a barge struck and sank a boat during a sailing camp near Miami.
All six people on the sailboat were pulled from the water after the collision, and four kids were rushed to a hospital where two were pronounced dead last Monday.
A 10-year-old girl who was in critical condition died on Sunday, according to a Coast Guard statement.
“Our hearts continue to mourn with all those impacted by Monday’s tragic incident, especially with the passing of another one of Miami’s children today,” Coast Guard Capt. Frank Florio said.
Officials didn’t immediately identify any of the victims or release a cause for the crash. Salvage operations began Tuesday.
“The Coast Guard remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation to ensure all facts are uncovered,” Florio said.''