Attorney says Mississippi man’s drowning on Miami River ‘completely preventable’

MIAMI – The family of a visitor who fell off a boat near the Brickell Avenue Bridge on St. Patrick’s Day and drowned in the Miami River has hired a law firm, which plans to hold a news conference Tuesday about what its lawyers call a “completely preventable” death.

Trevonte C. Johnson, 23, of Coila, Mississippi, was with five other friends visiting South Florida on March 17 when he fell off a chartered boat and drowned, officials said; Miami Fire Rescue personnel recovered his body from the bottom of the river but were unable to save him.

His family has since hired Stuart-based law firm Rubin & Rubin, which plans to hold a news conference in Brickell Tuesday afternoon; it says it seeks to “get answers” for the family.

The firm claims the boat, chartered by Johnson’s friends, was “not properly equipped” and was helmed by an “incapable” captain.

Attorneys also claim that other party boats on the river contributed to Johnson’s death.

“Safe boating practices were not followed or enforced by law enforcement despite a number of accidents and deaths on the Miami River,” the firm also claimed in a news release.

Tuesday’s news conference is scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.