Lawsuit Identifies Waterfront Construction in Miami Beach Youth Sailing Crash

A tragic collision in Biscayne Bay on July 28 resulted in the deaths of three young girls—Mila Yankelevich, Arielle Buchman, and Erin Ko—who were participating in a Miami Yacht Club youth sailing camp. The crash occurred when a 60-foot barge, owned by Waterfront Construction and operated by a tugboat, struck the 17-foot sailboat carrying five campers and a counselor. A lawsuit filed on behalf of a 9-year-old survivor alleges negligence by Waterfront Construction, the Miami Yacht Club, and the Youth Sailing Foundation, claiming they failed to take adequate measures to prevent the crash. The barge owner, Jorge Rivas, has declined to comment pending legal counsel. The family of the survivor has expressed concern over the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation, feeling it is more of a fact-finding mission than a criminal probe and frustrated by the lack of disclosure regarding the tugboat operator. Waterfront Construction's attorney has stated cooperation with the Coast Guard and emphasized the tragedy's gravity, highlighting the experience of the barge operators and negative toxicology reports.