The captain of a barge involved in a tragic yacht collision in Florida has undergone sobriety testing after the incident resulted in the deaths of two girls, one of whom was the granddaughter of a well-known television producer.
This test, which involves taking a blood sample, forms part of a US Coast Guard investigation into the fatal crash that occurred on Monday, according to Colonel Frank Florio III. He made a statement during a press briefing on Tuesday, emphasizing, “We owe you the answers, and we’re going to find them.”
The test’s results are still pending, and it’s unclear if there were specific reasons to warrant the alcohol testing. As it stands, the captain has not been placed under arrest.
Authorities are also looking into whether the crew of the barge had the proper licenses to operate in Biscayne Bay at the time of the accident off Miami Beach.
Five girls were aboard the yacht with teenage instructors as part of a summer camp when the unfortunate event took place on Monday. One of the deceased has been identified as seven-year-old Milayan Kerevich, whose grandmother is the acclaimed Argentine television producer Cris Morena.
Milayan’s grandfather, Gustavo Yankelevich, and her father, Thomas Yankelevich, are also prominent figures in television production, while her mother, Sofia Leka, is an actress.
Living in Surfside, Florida, Milayan was attending the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation Summer Camp, which is managed by the Miami Yacht Club, at the time of the crash.
In a heartfelt post on social media, her grandparents expressed their love for her and described her as “special” and “glorious,” wishing her a happy birthday back in February.
Milayan’s family, currently in communication with authorities along the Miami coast, is seeking information regarding the investigation, while also receiving emotional support during these challenging times, according to Argentine journalist Olian Brito.
As the youngest passenger on board, Milayan lost her life alongside a 13-year-old girl; the other two girls, aged 8 and 11, sustained serious injuries. The 19-year-old instructor and a 12-year-old girl, fortunately, emerged unscathed.
Witnesses described the scene, stating, “The crane completely destroyed the boat.” One person recounted hearing a girl cry out for help from beneath the crane.
