What we know about the Miami boat accident – NBC 6 South Florida

Investigators are still trying to find the boat responsible after a 15-year-old girl died in a waterskiing accident off Key Biscayne over the weekend.

A boater allegedly ran away after hitting Ella Riley Adler, who officials say fell into the water while being towed, and then the unthinkable happened.

“It’s a huge loss, she had such a bright future and it’s very sad. very sad,” said a father whose daughter is best friends with Adler.

Adler was a prominent dancer, a student at Ransom Everglades, a sister and daughter, and beloved by an entire community. Hundreds attended her memorial service Monday morning to celebrate her light and her life.

“Our entire community is grieving and trying to make sense of something that makes absolutely no sense,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who knew the family personally.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife officials, the incident occurred at the Nixon Beach Sandbar off Key Biscayne at 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Investigators said Adler was not actively water skiing but was being towed when she fell into the water. Then she was hit by another boat and fled the scene of the accident.

The boat in question was last seen heading west from Nixon Beach and is believed to have a “light blue center console with possibly blue or dark blue bottom paint and three or four white outboard motors,” FWC said in a statement Monday.

Maritime law experts said that while other boating activities require the display of a diving flag to alert other boats that someone is in the water, this is not the case with water skiing.

“A lot of this falls on the driver of the vessel, who is actually water skiing, to keep a close lookout,” said maritime attorney Michael Winkleman. “It generally requires someone on the back end to keep an eye on the water skier themselves,” and you’ll generally do it in areas that are generally safe to do something like this, including Nixon Beach – a very popular area to do so to practice such water sports.”

Winkleman assumes that this did not happen in a “no-wake zone” where a certain speed limit must be adhered to.

Just days after a fatal hit-and-run boating accident, a South Florida community is mourning the tragic loss of 15-year-old Ella Riley Adler.

Hundreds of commenters on social media wondered whether it was possible that the driver didn’t realize he had hit Adler, which Winkleman doesn’t believe is possible.

“I find that hard to believe because when you hit a person, it’s a large object, you definitely feel it, especially if you’re traveling at any speed,” he said. “So it’s really hard for me to imagine.”

But it’s something investigators are still looking into. FWC officials said Monday that they are making significant progress in this investigation.

Nixon Beach, a popular spot known for its party atmosphere, is no stranger to similar incidents in the past.

According to NBC6’s reporting, there have been at least five incidents near this sandbar since 2013 that resulted in injuries or deaths. Winkleman said those who operate a non-commercial boat in Florida can do so without taking a boating safety course if they were born before 1988.

Winkleman said the person responsible could potentially face major charges including manslaughter on a vessel, hit-and-run, reckless driving and negligent driving.

It is currently unknown whether alcohol was involved in this specific incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call this number: 888-404-3922.