The operator of a boat involved in a 2022 boat crash in Boca Chita Key that killed one teen and permanently injured another has been ordered to surrender to police after news broke last month he would be facing vessel homicide charges, according to local news outlets.
The order was signed by a judge Wednesday and calls for 54-year-old George Pino, a Miami real estate developer, to surrender to authorities. In addition to the vessel homicide charge, Pino will allegedly face one count of driving a vessel in a reckless manner.
What Happened?
Pino was operating a 29-foot vessel on Sept. 4, 2022, that carried 14 passengers who were ejected from the boat when it capsized after crashing into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key. Several of the passengers were teens, according to previous reporting.
One passenger, 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez, a student at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, was killed. Many of the other passengers were injured, including then-18-year-old Katerina Puig, another student. Puig’s injuries resulted in a permanent and life-altering disability.
Pino was previously charged with several misdemeanors related to the crash. He has pleaded not guilty to the new charges. An investigation report filed by officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission alleged that Pino drove the vessel in “a careless manner” the day of the crash. Officers also claimed that the boat was going between 45 and 47 mph.
The report goes on to describe 61 bottles and cans of alcohol were found on the boat including one empty bottle of champagne and a half-empty bottle of liquor, according to reporting from local media. A year after the crash another report was filed by FWC officers who said that Pino showed no signs of intoxication when they responded to the crash. Pino allegedly refused to give blood samples or submit to a breathalyzer test.
The new charge was sparked by testimony from a new witness, a Miami-Dade firefighter, who came forward and claimed alcohol was an element to what took place that day.
Pino’s attorney claimed in a statement that his client was not intoxicated—according to officers at the scene—that he had adhered to the posted speed limits, and that he had an adequate number of life jackets and life preservers on board.
Previous Cases
Florida has often been dubbed the “boating capital of the world” with over a million registered vessels in the state and attracting thousands of tourists from all over the globe to take part in its recreational boating activities. With that in mind, it is no wonder that Florida has also built up the reputation as the state with the most boating accidents per year.
Both Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, areas where Leesfield & Partners has held offices for over four decades, reported the most boating crashes statewide in 2023, according to annual crash numbers from the FWC. In Monroe County, where the incident rate for 2023 was the highest overall, there were 87 accidents that resulted in three deaths and 62 injuries.
In Florida boat injury cases, our attorneys are among some of the top in their field, securing millions for victims of negligence on the water. Recently, Partner and Trial Lawyer, Justin B. Shapiro filed suit in a devastating case involving the death of our client’s 24-year-old son, Justin Sosa.
Sosa was boating with others the day that Eric Rodriguez, 25, sped toward the shore in the dark. Compounding things, Rodriguez’s BAC was twice the legal limit, according to law enforcement. Sosa was ejected from the vessel when Rodriguez crashed near Channel Marker Number 20 in the Intracoastal Waterway at 45 mph. His skull was impaled by a metal rod that protruded from the channel marker and he was killed instantly.
Had it not been for Rodriguez’s disregard for the law and his passengers’ safety, our client’s son would still be alive today. In a statement to The Miami Herald, Mr. Shapiro said that the ordeal was “entirely preventable” and was a direct result of Rodriguez’s negligence.
““We are committed to seeking justice for Justin’s family and holding the responsible party accountable,” he previously told reporters.
That case is ongoing.
In another tragic boating incident, the firm secured a substantial settlement for a minor whose leg had to be amputated. Attorneys secured the settlement in that case for the negligent supervision of boating activities.
Leesfield & Partners represented the family of a 20-year-old who was a passenger on a boat that crashed into a concrete dock at night. Our client’s daughter was thrown into the water and later died from her injuries. An investigation revealed that not only was the driver speeding in low visibility, but he had also been drinking the night of the crash.
The firm secured over a million dollars for the grieving family.
In addition to boating accidents, the firm has notable experience in jet ski crash and parasailing tragedy litigation, the latter of which has resulted in over $47 million in settlements and verdicts secured for injured clients and their grieving families.
One such instance of a horrible parasailing incident involves a mother and daughter who were traveling on a cruise ship when they purchased such an excursion. The two were hoisted hundreds of feet in the air when the tow rope connecting them to the boat below suddenly snapped. Immediately, the two hurtled to the water below.
The mother died from her injuries while the daughter suffered traumatic brain injuries. The firm secured a combined settlement for the daughter’s family and for the mother’s surviving spouse of $7.25 million.
In cases involving jet ski crashes—a subset of injury cases that Leesfield & Partners attorneys have found to result in more injuries and fatalities than any other recreational water activity—the firm has represented hundreds of locals and tourists.
One such case involved a family visiting from California. They had hired jet ski tour guides, who were supposed to lead them through the waters and assist with operating the machinery. However, the guides repeatedly sped away from the family and failed to warn them about the strong currents around a narrow bridge opening
As a result, our client violently crashed into a concrete bridge piling and was severely injured.
While no settlement amount can erase the damage that has been done or bring back a lost loved one, it can help to alleviate the strain of unexpected medical bills, funeral expenses and lost wages that occurred as a result of the negligence of individuals and corporations. With nearly 50 years of experience in personal injury litigation, Leesfield & Partners have built a reputation for handling complex and devastating cases. Our attorneys have successfully represented grieving families and injured victims, securing record verdicts and delivering justice for those who have suffered the most.
If you or a loved one was injured in an incident on Florida waters, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney at 800-836-6400 today.