Misdemeanor Charges Filed in Florida Boat Accident Death
Authorities have initiated misdemeanor charges against two men in Florida linked to the tragic death of a 15-year-old high school freshman, who died last year after being struck by a boat while wakeboarding.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) reports that 79-year-old Carlos “Bill” Alonso is accused of breaching two U.S. Coast Guard navigation regulations, while 31-year-old Edmund Hartley faces four violations.
In May 2024, Ella Adler, along with a friend, was wakeboarding at Nixon Beach in Key Biscayne, south of Miami. Officials noted that they were being towed by a boat helmed by Hartley, which reportedly carried numerous passengers as the girls fell into the water.
While in the water, Adler was hit by a second boat, which fled the scene, according to authorities. Witnesses described a center console boat with blue paint and multiple outboard engines at the time of the incident.
This description led investigators to Alonso’s Boston Whaler docked at his home in Coral Gables. His attorney mentioned that Alonso was unaware he had struck anyone during the incident.
Lauren Krasnov, the lawyer for Alonso, expressed that “what happened last year was a tragic event, but it wasn’t Bill’s fault.” She emphasized that he acted cautiously and was surprised to learn about the charges against him, mentioning that the FWC did not believe his actions caused the accident.
Adler was a student at Ransom Everglades School and a ballet dancer with Miami City Ballet. Her obituary noted she had performed in over 100 shows. Her family recalled her as a beacon of light, full of love and joy.
Being a granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, she was described as a proud Jewish-American, embodying her family’s strong commitments to faith and community.
The attorney representing Hartley did not respond to inquiries regarding the case. A spokesperson for the FWC extended condolences to Adler’s family, stating, “Our thoughts are with them as they process this unimaginable loss.”
Both men have pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of reckless operation of their vessel.
Former Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava expressed her deep sympathies for the Adler family, advocating for improved boating safety to prevent future tragedies.
