Boating Accident

Published on: April 3, 2026

Boat in Deadly Biscayne Bay Hit-And-Run Crash Found, police say

Police say they have found the boat they believe was involved in a hit-and-run boat crash on Biscayne Bay that killed a father and injured his son last week in Miami, according to local media.

Police did not name the owner of the boat or say who was operating the vessel the night of the deadly crash.

The incident happened on the night of Wednesday, March 25, while the father and son were on a 7-foot dinghy in the Meloy Channel near Indian Creek and Biscayne Point in Biscayne Bay. The two were hit by another vessel, which police later identified as a 20-30-foot boat that is dark blue with black bottom paint.

Published on: March 27, 2026

Police Search for Boater in Deadly Biscayne Bay Hit-And-Run. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A father has died and his son remained injured after the two were hit by a boat Wednesday night in Biscayne Bay, according to local media.

The two, who have not been identified as of Thursday afternoon, were on a seven-foot-dinghy when they were struck by another vessel and ejected upon impact, officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told The Miami Herald. The other vessel is described as dark blue and is about 20 to 30 feet long with two outboard motors.

Emergency responders took both to the hospital where the father tragically died. No additional details on the son’s condition have been released as of Thursday afternoon.

Published on: November 14, 2025

Two People Rescued from Burning Boat off Hollywood Beach. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least two people were rescued Monday, Nov. 3, after their boat caught fire off Hollywood Beach, according to reporters from The Miami Herald.

The 35-foot boat caught fire about four miles from the shore and at least two people were rescued by another boater, fire officials told the newspaper. They were both transferred to U.S. Coast Guard crews.

No injuries were reported in this incident and, as of Tuesday morning, no preliminary cause was released.

Published on: November 14, 2025

Leesfield & Partners Files Lawsuit After Boating Accident That Nearly Cost 11-Year-Old Her Leg

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners recently filed a lawsuit following the gruesome and permanent injury of 11-year-old Catherine Viteri, a camper at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club’s summer camp.

The case is being handled by Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Trial Attorney Eric Shane.

On July 10, 2025, Catherine and children were separated into two groups for swimming and sailing activities that were monitored by three camp counselors. At around 2 p.m., Catherine was taking part in the swimming activity when a 21-year-old counselor was transporting a group of campers to the area, unaware of how many children were on board or already in the water. As a result of the inattentiveness of these counselors, Catherine was run over by the 13-foot Ribocraft motorboat and hit with the propeller. The propeller sliced through her right leg, causing a laceration so severe that it cut to the bone and nearly caused an amputation.

Published on: September 4, 2025

Four People Rescued from Water After Boat Capsized Over Labor Day Weekend in Miami, officials say.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least four people were pulled from the water Sunday afternoon after their boat capsized near Haulover Inlet in Miami, according to reporting from local media.

All four were found sitting on the overturned hull of their 25-foot boat around 4 p.m. The boat was found nearly seven miles short of Haulover Inlet.

No Injuries were reported in this incident though Miami-Dade Fire Rescue teams have taken this as the opportunity to remind boaters to check the weather conditions before setting out on the water, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. Additionally, boaters should ensure they have a VHF radio on board that is turned to channel 16 — the quickest way to radio for help if in distress on the water.

Published on: August 19, 2025

Surviving Fort Lauderdale Personal Watercraft Victim in Stable Condition, officials say.

By Leesfield & Partners

One of two sisters involved in an Aug. 12 fatal personal watercraft crash in Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway is reportedly in stable condition, according to reporting from local news outlets.

Aviva Bracha Nisanov, 16, of New York, was rushed to Broward Medical Center in critical condition following the crash that killed her sister, 13-year-old Rachel Aliza Nisanov. The two with their parents, Rebbitzin Ora Nisanov and Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov, while the family was vacationing from their home in New York.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. near the 2800 block of Northeast 24th Court when the two crashed into a concrete dock.

Published on: August 18, 2025

Here’s How a Boat Scheduled to be Sunk Got Stuck Under a Florida Bridge. What to know about safety on the water.

By Leesfield & Partners

A 24-year-old diving boat scheduled to be purposefully sunk for use as a coral reef held on a bit longer after it got stuck under a bridge in the Florida Panhandle.

The 75-foot vessel, a diving boat named the Nekton Rorqual, was being towed by a tugboat beneath the William T. Marler Bridge, a four-lane bridge in Destin, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. Photos shared online of the vessel made it appear as though it were a perfect fit between the bridge pylons and commenters online drew comparisons to parallel parking. Officials said that as the boat was being towed, it got caught in the current, causing it to get stuck.

Officials reported no evidence of damage caused by the boat following the ordeal. It took about 15 minutes to maneuver the boat out from under the bridge. Authorities temporarily blocked traffic during this time while tugboat operators below attempted to free the vessel.

Published on: August 14, 2025

Sisters in Monday Fort Lauderdale Personal Watercraft Crash were on guided tour, FWC says.

By Leesfield & Partners

The girls from a prominent family in the Queens, New York, Bukharian Jewish community who were involved in a deadly Fort Lauderdale personal watercraft crash were on a guided tour, according to authorities.

The two, 13-year-old Rachel Aliza Nisanov and her sister, 16-year-old Aviva Bracha Nisanov, were riding tandem on a personal watercraft — mostly known as a jet ski — in the Intracoastal Waterway Tuesday around 3:30 p.m. when they crashed into a concrete dock, according to The Miami Herald. The girls were near the 2800 block of Northeast 24^th Court.

After the crash, the two were rushed to Broward Health Medical Center where Rachel died from her injuries and Aviva remains in critical condition, the newspaper said. The parents of both girls — Rebbitzin Ora Nisanov and Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov — were on another personal watercraft in the area when the crash occurred. Their father leapt into the water in a desperate attempt to save them.

Published on: August 13, 2025

One Dead, Another Injured in Fort Lauderdale Personal Watercraft Tragedy, officials say.

By Leesfield & Partners

Weeks after a devastating sailboat-barge collision in Miami Beach, another tragedy has struck South Florida — this time leaving one teenager dead and another seriously injured.

The incident happened Tuesday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal Waterway near the 2800 block of Northeast 24^th Court, according to reporting from local media. The girls were riding tandem on a personal watercraft around 3:30 p.m. when they allegedly crashed into a dock.

Both girls were taken to the Broward Medical Center where one of them died and another remains seriously injured.

Published on: August 5, 2025

Leesfield & Partners Representing Family of Girl, 7, Injured in Miami Beach Deadly Sailboat Crash.

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners is representing 7-year-old Calena Areyan Gruber and her family following the devastating sailboat crash that killed three other minors in Miami Beach.

“My heart goes out to the families of those involved in this most tragic incident,” said Partner Justin B. Shapiro. “Very few details have been shared with the public, and it is too early to cast blame on any particular individual or entity. Regardless, it is absolutely clear this is an incident that cannot happen in the absence of negligence, incompetence, or both.”

Calena’s parents, Karina Gruber Moreno and Enrique Areyan Viqueira, issued a statement Monday to local media asking for privacy following her release from the hospital.