Miami Tugboat Captain Pleads Guilty in Crash That Killed 3 Children
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
Miami Tugboat Captain Pleads Guilty in Crash That Killed 3 Children
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
Summary
Yusiel Lopez Insua, 47, admitted in federal court that his actions caused the July 28, 2025 collision in Biscayne Bay and now faces up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said the 25-foot tugboat was pushing a barge when it struck a stalled sailboat carrying five girls ages 7 to 13 and a 19-year-old camp counselor near Miami Beach.
Federal authorities said the counselor tried to warn Insua, but his forward view was blocked by part of the tugboat's structure.
Three girls died in the crash — Mila Yankelevich, 7, Erin Ko, 13, and Arielle Buchman, 10 — turning a sailing camp outing into a fatal case prosecutors said never should have happened.