Latest news with #KeyBiscayne
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Florida men charged in fatal boating hit-and-run of 15-year-old ballerina
Authorities have filed misdemeanor charges against two Florida men in connection with the boating hit-and-run death of a 15-year-old high school freshman while she was wakeboarding with friends last year. Carlos "Bill" Alonso, 79, is charged with violating two U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules, and Edmund Hartley, 31, is charged with violating four Coast Guard rules, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC). In May 2024, Ella Adler, 15, and a friend were wakeboarding in Key Biscayne's Nixon Beach, located south of Miami. The girls were being towed by a boat driven by Hartley and carrying a dozen people when they fell into the water in different locations, according to officials. While in the water, Adler was struck by a second boat that subsequently sped off, officials said. Witnesses reported seeing a center console boat with blue bottom paint and multiple outboard engines at the time of the incident. The description led investigators to Alonso's Boston whaler docked outside his Coral Gables home, with Alonso previously telling authorities he was unaware he had struck someone, according to his attorneys. "What happened last year was an absolute tragedy, but it was not Bill's fault," Lauren Krasnoff, the attorney representing Alonso, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Bill is an experienced and cautious boater and that is how he acted that day. FWC explicitly told us that they did not find Bill's actions caused the accident. Because of that, we were very surprised to learn about the citations." Adler was a freshman at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove and a Miami City Ballet ballerina, where she performed in more than 100 shows, according to her obituary. "In her 15 years on this earth, she dazzled us with her light," her family wrote. "She emanated love and joy." The 15-year-old ballerina was the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and was a proud Jewish-American, according to her family. "She loved Israel and came from a long line of Jewish leaders with a strong commitment to faith and tikkun olam," her obituary reads. "She wore her identity proudly and loudly, just like her parents." The attorney representing Hartley did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ella Adler," a spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss." Both men are charged with multiple counts of careless operation of a vessel and have pleaded not guilty. "My deepest condolences to the Adler family," Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava previously posted to X. "Let's honor her memory by exercising better boat safety, to ensure tragedies like this never happen again. May she rest in peace."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Two Florida men charged after beautiful ballerina, 15, struck and killed by boat while wakeboarding
Charges have been filed against two men in connection to the tragic death of a beautiful 15-year-old ballerina who was fatally struck by a boat while wakeboarding. Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 79, was charged with two misdemeanors for careless operation of a vessel and Edmund Richard Hartley, 31, has been charged with four misdemeanors for careless operation of a vessel, in relation to the death of Ella Adler. On May 11, 2024, Adler and another girl were wakeboarding behind a 42-foot Hanse Fjord walk-around near Key Biscayne, just south of Miami, before falling off at different spots, officials said. A dozen people had been on the boat pulling her. Before the vessel, operated by Hartley, could return to collect her, Adler was hit by another boat, allegedly driven by Alonso, which immediately sped away, officials said. After several witnesses described the hit-and-run vessel and what they saw, including mentions of 'a lot of blood in the water,' investigators eventually found the boat, a Boston whaler, docked behind Alonso's Coral Gables home. Alonso, who also goes by Bill, said he didn't realize he had struck Adler, according to his attorneys. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said both men were charged following a 'thorough investigation' into her tragic death. Both are accused of violating the U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules on responsibility and look-out while on the water, and Hartley has additionally been charged with violating rules regarding risk of collision and action to avoid it, per the FWC. After several witness descriptions of the hit-and-run vessel and what they saw, including mention of 'a lot of blood in the water,' investigators eventually found the boat, a Boston whaler, docked behind Alonso's Coral Gables home Alonso and Hartley have pleaded not guilty. They are set to appear in court on June 30 for a trial hearing. 'The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ella Adler. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss,' the organization said in the statement. Alonso's lawyer, Lauren Field Krasnoff, previously told reporters her client was an avid boater for over 50 years and that he was by himself on his vessel on the day Ella was killed. 'If he was the person that was involved in this accident, and I want to be clear, we don't know that yet. If he was he had absolutely no idea of his involvement,' she said. 'When the police came knocking, he did not know why. We're not sure if he was involved. But if he was he absolutely did not know what had happened.' According to a maritime attorney who spoke to NBC6 Miami, there's no chance that the person who hit Adler was unaware of the impact. 'I find that extremely hard to believe because hitting a person is a large object, you would definitely feel that especially if you are going at any type of a rate of speed,' Michael Winkleman said. Krasnoff pointed out that Alonso tied his boat up in plain sight after returning home and that he was cooperating with the investigation. The lawyer said that Alonso does not drink alcohol and that he was not drinking when he was out boating on Saturday, where conditions were described as 'choppy.' Eerie surveillance footage captured the moment Alonso left a dock shortly after Adler was hit. His attorneys chose to release the footage because they said it bolstered his claim that he had no idea about the tragic accident before speeding away from the scene. In the footage from Fox6, he was seen unmooring his vessel shortly after 3pm that day before returning around 4:30pm in a calm manner. The late teen has been remembered as a 'force of nature' who performed over 100 times with the Miami City Ballet. 'Her magnetism radiated on the stage, where she belonged and thrived,' her obituary read. Family, friends and classmates from Ransom Everglades School attended her funeral as heartbreaking images showed their emotional reaction laying the young girl to rest. The teenager was a high achiever, involved in many different organizations and clubs, including her school's Jewish Student Association, the debate team and the Miami City Ballet. After hearing of the charges filed against Alonso and Hartley, her family said in a statement: 'We are deeply grateful to the State Attorney's Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for their diligence, professionalism, and commitment throughout this unimaginable process. 'Their efforts have brought a measure of accountability and clarity during the most painful time in our lives.' Although they are grateful for justice for Adler, her family is also determined to spread awareness about water safety and conditions, NBC6 reported. They also established a foundation in her name. 'Through the newly established Ella Riley Adler Foundation, we are committed to advancing causes that reflect her passions and values, including Jewish community and continuity, education, and the arts, especially dance,' they said. Alonso's attorney told what happened to the teenager 'was an absolute tragedy,' but it was not her client's fault. 'What happened last year was an absolute tragedy. But it was not Bill's fault. Bill is an experienced and cautious boater and that is how he acted that day,' Krasnoff said. 'FWC explicitly told us that they did not find Bill's actions caused the accident. Because of that, we were very surprised to learn about the citations. 'We understand that FWC is under a lot of pressure from recent events. But now, after telling us that Bill was not to blame, we will need to get to the bottom of this charging decision a year later.'
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Two boat operators charged in wakeboarding girl's death in South Florida
MIAMI (AP) — Misdemeanor charges have filed against the man who was operating the boat that fatally struck a 15-year-old girl off a South Florida beach last year, as well as the man who was operating the boat she had been wakeboarding behind, authorities announced Tuesday. Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 79, was charged April 28 with violating two U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules, and Edmund Richard Hartley, 31, was charged April 29 with violating four Coast Guard rules, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a press release. Attorneys for Alonso and Hartley didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment. They have both pleaded not guilty. In May 2024, 15-year-old Ella Adler and another girl were wakeboarding behind a 42-foot (13-meter) Hanse Fjord walk-around near Key Biscayne, just south of Miami, before falling off at different spots, officials said. A dozen people had been on the boat pulling Adler. Before the vessel, operated by Hartley, could return to collect her, Adler was hit by another boat, which immediately sped away, officials said. Witnesses described the hit-and-run craft as a center console boat with a light blue hull, multiple white outboard engines and blue bottom paint. Investigators eventually found the boat, a Boston whaler, docked behind Alonso's Coral Gables home. His attorneys have previously said he didn't realize he had stuck anyone with his boat and was cooperating with authorities. Adler was a freshman at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove and a ballerina with the Miami City Ballet.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Record seaweed surge at South Florida beaches
A record-breaking seaweed bloom is threatening to sour beachgoers' plans across South Florida as thick mats of sargassum continue to wash ashore, bringing foul smells, murky water and frustration to coastal communities. Seaweed turning tourists away "It brings a lot of animals from the sea and when they get here, it's rotten, so the smell is really bad," said Maria Rioscco, who frequently visits Hobie Island Beach Park with her husband. But this week, the mounting piles of seaweed along Key Biscayne have kept them away. Sandra Artiles, who lives in Brickell, said the problem is just as bad inland. "We have all this seaweed every day. Actually, we used to have an alligator after the seaweed had been sitting there for days and the smell is horrible. We cannot be by the pool — that's why we're here at the beach now. And here we come and there's all this seaweed," Artiles said. Scientists warn of more to come Dr. Chuanmin Hu, professor of Oceanography at the University of South Florida, said 13 million metric tons of sargassum were measured in April across the tropical Atlantic and eastern Caribbean — a figure signaling what could be one of the largest influxes yet. "It could be a large amount in late June or July, but it's too early to predict," Hu said. He noted the exact cause of the bloom is still unknown, though warmer ocean temperatures and stronger winds may be contributing factors. While fresh seaweed poses little risk, rotting sargassum can harbor bacteria and attract insects. "The rotten sargassum will attract insects just like anything rotten will attract insects and grow bacteria. That's why you want to avoid that," Hu said. "That is bad. The water quality is bad and you don't want to swim or dive in that brownish water," he added. Residents call for action Some residents are calling on local officials to address the growing problem. "I really hope that we can establish some program to clean it up," said Artiles. "I don't see why they can't clean the beaches. We do pay enough money for that," Rioscco said. CBS News Miami has reached out to Miami-Dade County officials for comment but has not yet received a response.
