Miami Real Estate Broker Charged in Fatal Boat Crash
Charges have been filed against a prominent Miami real estate broker, George Pino, regarding a boat crash that occurred in Boca Chita on Labor Day of 2022. The incident resulted in the death of a young woman and injured several others. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has charged Pino with two counts of careless operation of a vessel causing death and serious bodily injury.
Pino was operating a 29-foot boat with his wife and 12 teenage girls on board when the vessel collided with a channel marker in Biscayne Bay. The impact caused everyone on board to be ejected. Luciana Fernandez, a seventeen-year-old passenger, tragically passed away at the scene. Another teenager, Katy Puig, suffered permanent disabilities as a result of the injuries sustained during the crash.
The families of the victims have expressed their devastation and anger over the state attorney’s decision to charge Pino. The parents of Katy Puig had previously filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Pino. They claimed that officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission did not test Pino’s blood alcohol levels immediately after the crash, despite reports of empty alcohol bottles in the boat.
However, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office stated that Pino was not impaired by drugs or alcohol while operating the vessel. This limited the criminal charges applicable to the circumstances of the incident. Attorneys for Pino maintain that the crash was not alcohol-related and attribute it to the wake created by another boat, causing a loss of control.
The families of the victims are currently devastated and distraught with the findings of the investigating authorities. They need time to gather their thoughts and continue to pray for everyone involved in the incident.
These charges and the tragic consequences of the boat crash highlight the importance of responsible operation of vessels to prevent accidents and protect lives.
– Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office: https://www.miamisao.com/
– Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
