On Monday morning, a large barge collided with a youth summer camp sailboat in Biscayne Bay, killing two girls and leaving two others in critical condition. The flat-bottomed vessel reportedly hit the sailboat, which was carrying five children and a camp counselor, and went over the top of it, causing it to capsize, according to officials. Miami Yacht Club, which has been teaching children, teenagers, and adults how to sail since 1927, confirmed on social media that the victims were part of the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation.
Two of the six people were declared dead upon arrival at Jackson Memorial Hospital, including a 7-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. An 8-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl were in critical condition following the collision, while a 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman were rescued from the water in "good condition."
Authorities have yet to identify the two girls who died and the two girls who are in critical condition, but the Argentine newspaper La Nacion has identified 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich, the granddaughter of television producers Gustavo Yankelevich and Cris Morena, as one of the children who died in the crash.
Mila's father, Tomás Yankelevich, is a television producer and director; her mother, Sofía Reca, is a singer and actress. Miami-Dade County property records show the family lives in Surfside.
On February 12, Morena wished her granddaughter a happy birthday on her Instagram.
"Mila my girl with wings, my happy and free little fairy, dreamy and long-awaited Aquarian…🧚 Our moments together full of dances, songs, inventing the shapes of the clouds on the beach, your incredible questions…🏖️🎶☁️ You are sun, freedom, hugs, beautiful, restless, sweet, beloved girl, special, brilliant ⭐️ my dear granddaughter!!! Happy day! Happy life🙌 Happy birthday🎂 I love you always!!!" the post reads.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are currently investigating the crash.
Coast Guard officials will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. to provide updates on the collision.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as events warrant.
