Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
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.
“Our hearts are broken for the families who suffered the most unthinkable tragedy in last week’s collision,” her parents said. “This is a deeply harrowing reminder of how suddenly and senselessly life can change. In an instant, what should have been a day of joy and connection on the water turned into a source of unimaginable grief. Our hearts will forever remain with the families involved in this most tragic incident.”
No case has been filed, and no legal action has been taken as the firm and the Areyan Gruber family await the U.S. Coast Guard’s findings.
“Many boaters are unfamiliar with the most basic navigation rules and actions necessary to avoid collisions in vessel traffic,” Mr. Shapiro said. “I look forward to the Coast Guard’s findings and hope the boating community can learn from this horrific incident.”
What Happened?
The incident happened on Monday, July 28, involving a sailboat and a barge that was being pulled by a tugboat. The tragic crash occurred around 11 a.m. between Hibiscus and Monument islands when the barge slammed into the sailboat, carrying one adult and five children. The sailboat was dragged under the barge, which was transporting what appeared to be a crane and other construction materials, according to local media.
Calena was visiting the area from Seattle and was enrolled as a camper as a part of a summer camp program operated by the Miami Beach Yacht Club with ties to the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation.
At least three girls — 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich, 13-year-old Erin Ko Han, and 10-year-old Arielle Mazi Buchman — died following the crash. Both Mila and Erin died from accidental drowning while Arielle died from her injuries several days later at the hospital.
One other child who was on the sailboat, 12, and a 19-year-old camp counselor were treated for minor injuries at the scene, local media reported on the day of the crash.
USCG officials conducted sobriety tests on the adults involved, including the barge and tugboat operators and the camp counselor.
Officials from Argentina, where Mila lived part of the time with her family, will also be joining the investigation. The Chilean National Maritime Authority — a senior agency within Chile’s navy, the country Erin where lived before moving to the U.S. a year ago — has also been invited to join.
Erin’s family has since spoken out about the devastating loss of their daughter via a statement from Alvin Wu, the girl’s uncle and godfather.
“Our lives were forever changed by a devastating accident that took Erin from us far too soon, leaving our family heartbroken beyond words,” he said. “We hold the other victims and their loved ones in our hearts, sharing in the profound sorrow this loss has brought to so many.”
She was described as an academically gifted child who brought incredible joy to those around her. She participated as a member of her school’s volleyball team and enjoyed trapeze. At her previous school in Chile, a memorial mass was held, and classmates were pictured online releasing white balloons in her honor.
Mila’s family remembered her following this wrenching loss as a “joyful child” who loved dressing up in costumes, singing and dancing, according to local media. She is the youngest daughter of television producer and director Thomas Yankelevich and actress Sofia Reca. She lived in both Surfside and Argentina with her family before her passing, according to reporting from CBS Miami.
Rabbi Eliot Pearlson of Temple Menorah in Miami Beach told reporters with NBC 6 that he had known 10-year-old Arielle “Ari” since she was an infant. She is remembered as an “amazing soul” who never hesitated to help others.
“At the end of every class, she would hug every teacher and kiss them goodbye and always ask how they were doing at the end of the day,” Pearlson told reporters. “She was very loving, very giving, very caring.”
Leesfield & Partners
This heartbreaking incident has sent shockwaves through the South Florida boating community. The attorneys and staff at Leesfield & Partners extend their deepest sympathies to the families affected. While no statistic can capture the pain of such a loss, it is important to recognize that boating incidents remain a serious concern in Florida.
In 2024, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported approximately 685 reportable boating incidents statewide, resulting in 81 fatalities and nearly 400 injuries. About 65% of boaters involved in fatal accidents had not received formal boating education — underscoring the importance of safety awareness on the water.
As a personal injury law firm based in coastal cities like Key West and Miami, Leesfield & Partners has seen the toll that boating tragedies can have on families and individuals. The firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, has remained outspoken on critical safety issues and the need for greater accountability across Florida’s tourism and hospitality industries.
“The dangers from boating incidents are entirely underestimated as South Florida becomes more congested, drinking on the water becomes more prevalent and distractions from cell phones and other devices increases,” he said. “Important safety standards must be enforced on all watercrafts.”
For nearly five decades, Mr. Leesfield and the attorneys at Leesfield & Partners have been strong advocates for sober boating, life jacket use and other critical safety practices to help prevent these tragedies.
On July 1, Lucy’s Law — named after high schooler Luciana ‘Lucy’ Fernandez, who died in the 2022 Boca Chita boat crash — went into effect, imposing stricter penalties for boaters who flee the scene of a crash and strengthening boater education requirements statewide. In an article with iHeart Radio’s Joel Malkin, Mr. Shapiro said the changes were much needed.
“I think these are long overdue changes,” he said. “We have seen far too many fatalities and grievous injuries from boating crashes over the years.”
As these incidents continue to occur, taking with them precious lives and causing severe injuries, it is clear that more has to be done in order to ensure the safety of locals and tourists alike on the water.
“Florida is the boating capital of the world, but sadly, it is also the boating fatality capital of the world,” Mr. Shapiro said. “There are no formal education or certification requirements for most boaters in Florida, leaving many grossly unqualified to navigate Florida’s unique and congested waterways.”
The firm has various boating injury cases in differing stages of the legal process.
Mr. Shapiro and Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, are representing a teen who suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a water tubing accident.
Mr. Shapiro and Trial Attorney Eric Shane are representing a young girl who was enrolled in a South Florida summer camp when her leg was sliced by a boat propeller.
Boating Tragedies Handled by Leesfield & Partners
Previously, the firm secured a substantial settlement in a case involving a minor who lost a leg while not being supervised on a vessel.
The firm previously handled the case of a family whose young son was snorkeling when he was hit and killed by a passing boater. The boater in that case was also a minor who should never have been given permission to operate the vessel without supervision. Not only did this minor not stop, but he attempted to cover up evidence and lied to police when questioned.
Neighbors later testified that this minor regularly operated the boat in a reckless manner.
The firm represented the family of a young woman, 20, who tragically died when the vessel she was on crashed into a concrete dock. The firm secured over $1.3 million for the family when it was revealed that the boat operator had been drinking and speeding the night of the crash.
In a jet ski and boat crash, Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured $935,750 for their client.
In a boat case involving a foreign resort, the firm secured an $800,000 recovery for the injured client.
Another boating accident involving a negligent operator resulted in a $500,000 recovery.
In addition to boating accident litigation, Leesfield & Partners have represented the victims of various water-related accidents, including drownings, jet ski crashes, parasailing, and other recreational activities.
The firm represented the widow of a man who drowned while on a boat tour at the Dry Tortugas National Park. The company’s tour guides instructed the man where he should go to snorkel and, within minutes, his body was found unresponsive.
The firm secured a six-figure recovery in that case.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Leesfield & Partners Trial Attorney, represented the family of a young man and father-to-be who was lobster diving when he was killed by a law enforcement officer who negligently failed to adhere to divers-down flag laws.
