A devastating boat collision in Biscayne Bay has claimed the lives of three young girls, injured several others, and left the Miami community searching for answers. The crash, which occurred on a congested waterway the morning of July 28, involved a 300-ton tug and barge and a small sailboat with young girls learning how to sail. Survivors and grieving families now face both the emotional toll of the tragedy as well as the difficult process of obtaining answers about how this could possibly happen.
STFBC partner David Bianchi has been following the case closely. With more than 45 years of trial experience, he recognizes both the human cost of such an incident and the complex legal and investigative work it will require.
“It is inconceivable that this incident happened,” David said. “All they had to do was post a crew member on the forward end of the barge with a handheld VHF radio, and he could have alerted the captain of the tug that there was a small sailboat ahead and he needed to slow down or drop the spuds and stop. This never ever should have happened.”
A Preventable Tragedy with Familiar Lessons
According to public reports, the collision took place in an area where multiple vessels were operating in close quarters—conditions that require strict adherence to navigation rules, constant lookout, and proactive evasive action. Investigators will likely focus on whether proper precautions were taken, whether any equipment malfunctions played a role, and whether crew members were distracted.
Bianchi’s perspective draws on years of representing families in high-profile cases, including college fraternity hazing lawsuits where parents sought more than just compensation—they wanted to uncover the truth and prevent others from suffering the same fate.
In his view, the families in this case may have similar priorities:
“They will undoubtedly want to learn all they can about why this happened, but they may also want to get laws changed to reduce the likelihood of this happening to anyone else.”
The Broader Mission: Prevention & Accountability
Bianchi was recently quoted in the press that one of the most significant challenges will be finding sufficient insurance coverage to fairly compensate the victims and their families. But, as he pointed out, many parents in similar cases focus on more than just a financial recovery. They often push for changes in safety protocols, legislation, and public awareness to protect others.
From an injury lawyer’s perspective, tragedies like this raise two parallel questions:
- How did this happen?
- What can be done to make sure it never happens again?
The path forward will involve painstaking investigative work—collecting evidence, analyzing Coast Guard findings, and identifying every contributing factor. The ultimate goal is clear: for the civil justice system to uncover preventable dangers and drive reforms that make waterways safer for everyone.