The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that the captain of the tugboat involved in a tragic collision on Monday, which resulted in the deaths of two young girls at a voyage camp, underwent an alcohol test as part of their investigation.
One of the victims has been identified as seven-year-old Milayan Kerevich, who is the granddaughter of renowned Argentine television producer Chris Morena. The Argentine Consulate in Miami has verified this information.
The consulate stated, “We have been informed about the accident in Miami and are ready to support the affected families as needed.” Milayan’s family includes her grandfather, Gustavo Yankelevich, her father, Thomas Yankelevich, both of whom are producers, and her mother, Sofia Leka, who is an actress.
Along with Jankelevich, a second victim, a 13-year-old girl, has yet to be publicly identified. They were both transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital but unfortunately did not survive. Additionally, two other girls—ages eight and eleven—are reported to be in critical condition, while a 12-year-old girl, a 19-year-old, and a female instructor were also rescued from the scene.
Colonel Frank Florio, the commander of Coast Guard Miami, shared that the young girl was wearing a life vest at the time of the incident. He also mentioned that alcohol testing is standard procedure following such accidents but did not disclose the results or details from the tugboat captain’s interview with investigators. The Coast Guard has been contacted for further comments.
“We owe you the answers and are committed to finding them,” Florio stated during a press conference addressed to the grieving families.
Witnesses described the scene, saying, “The crane completely destroyed the boat.” One witness recounted hearing a girl cry for help underneath the crane.
The ongoing investigation will also assess whether the boat crews were properly licensed to operate in the area. The Miami Yacht Club, where the incident occurred, is cooperating with law enforcement. They emphasized that the campus will remain closed indefinitely to respect the families affected and support the investigation.
The Miami Yacht Club expressed their sorrow in a statement, describing their community as a family and sharing in the grief of those impacted by this heartbreaking event.
