Yusiel Lopez Insua, 46, is scheduled to appear in court today on charges of seaman's manslaughter by negligence, related to a collision on 28/7/2025 that killed three girls aged 7, 10, and 13.

Federal prosecutors stated that Insua was operating a tugboat pulling a 33-meter construction barge, filled with demolition debris from a seawall project, when it collided with a disabled sailboat carrying five children and a 19-year-old summer camp instructor near Hibiscus Island, Florida.

Due to restricted visibility and the absence of a lookout, Insua failed to see the sailboat before the barge struck it, according to the indictment.

The vessel of Yusiel Lopez Insua on the day of the accident. Photo: CBS12

The sailboat lost wind and its engine died directly in the path of the approaching barge. The instructor stood up and attempted to warn the approaching vessel, but the captain took no action.

The barge collided with, capsized, and crushed the sailboat with six people on board. The instructor and two girls, aged 7 and 12, managed to escape. The three remaining children were trapped and remained pinned under the defendant’s vessel, dying from drowning and trauma.

Defendant Yusie had 12 years of experience and had encountered similar situations before. Prosecutors noted that the vessel's forward visibility was obstructed by both a cabin attached to the barge and a construction crane positioned near the front of the deck. Despite these limitations, no one on board was assigned as a lookout.

An examination of the captain’s mobile phone also revealed internet activity throughout the journey, showing continuous activity on "online marketplaces" at the time of the sailboat collision.

According to the charges, the vessel was not equipped with cameras, radar, or other devices that could have compensated for the obscured visibility. The windows in the pilothouse were closed, making it difficult for the defendant to hear anyone outside attempting to warn him.

Hai Thu (According to DOJ, Law and Crime)