Witnesses recount fatal collision of kids' sailboat with barge: "Children were sent flying"

The sailboat and barge owners involved in the tragic collision in Biscayne Bay are collaborating with commercial salvage teams to develop a plan for removing both vessels, as reported by the U.S. Coast Guard. The incident, which resulted in two young girls losing their lives and two others sustaining critical injuries, took place between Hibiscus Island and Monument Island. The sailboat, carrying six individuals including five girls and an adult counselor, was struck by the barge equipped with a crane and what appeared to be dock pilings, causing the sailboat to be submerged. Various rescue teams, including those from Miami Beach Fire Rescue, Miami, Miami-Dade, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Coast Guard, worked together to rescue all six individuals. Tragically, two girls, ages 7 and 13, passed away at Jackson Memorial Hospital, while an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old remain in critical condition. The incident occurred during the final week of a summer sailing camp run by the Miami Yacht Club in conjunction with the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation. Witnesses described a harrowing scene of the crash, with children wearing life jackets being thrown into the water as the barge collided with the sailboat. The Miami Yacht Club expressed profound sadness over the tragedy and emphasized its commitment to providing access to the bay, particularly for inner-city children. The crash is under investigation by the Coast Guard to determine the causes and prevent future similar incidents.