On Monday morning, a barge collided with a youth summer camp sailboat, 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, 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.
A 7-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl were declared dead upon arrival at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Argentine news outlets reported that the 7-year-old was Mila Yankelevich, the granddaughter of television producers Gustavo Yankelevich and Cris Morena. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's office has identified the 13-year-old as Erin Ko.
According to a Spanish language Instagram post from Ko's former school in Chile, Colegio San Pedro Nolasco, the teenager moved to the United States with her family in 2024 and was in the sixth grade.
The school said Ko excelled academically — especially in mathematics — and participated in volleyball, trapeze, and fabric workshop activities. Ko will be remembered, the post said, for being a good student and a compassionate friend.
"Her friendliness and personality allowed her to share transversely with students of different levels, whether it was by her participation in extracurricular activities or by the family ties that joined her with peers from other courses," the post reads. "In these moments of sorrow, we extend our deepest condolences to their family, friends, and loved ones."
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which is investigating the crash alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, a large barge struck the sailboat and ran over it.
In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Capt. Frank Florio, deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, said the barge was "supporting construction operations" in Miami Beach.
While officials have yet to publicly identify the barge captain, Florio said they have interviewed the captain, who was administered a sobriety test, and believe all girls were wearing life jackets at the time of the collision.
